Assessing solid waste management in Fort Portal city western Uganda a case study of Fort Portal Central Bazar Ward and Kibimba Ward
Abstract
This study assessed the solid waste management in Fort Portal central division in fort portal
city western Uganda a case study of Bazaar ward and Kibimba ward. The study specifically;
i) determined the role of Kitere waste disposal site in fort portal city, ii) the types of solid waste
generated, iii) the methods and materials of solid waste collection, iv) the effects of solid waste
on environment and human health. Data was collected by cross sectional survey using
questionnaires where a sample size of 60 respondents provided data. Key informant interviews
with technical persons and leaders for information regarding solid waste management. Data
was analyzed using SPSS by cross tabulation and regression and correlational analysis. Results
showed that that the is only one legal waste disposal Kitere waste site which handles over 70%
of solid waste collected in fort portal city. Results revealed that food and organic waste the
most generated waste others being paper waste, plastics, polyethene, metals, furniture and
wood, the per capita waste generation of 0.47 kgs and total of 70 tons of solid waste generated
daily. Sacks were the most used materials to collect waste and others were plastic containers,
waste pits, metallic cans and polyethene bags. Results also showed that air pollution, water
contamination, soil degradation and blocking of water channels as the major impacts of solid
waste to the environment and people. The recommendations of the study were; i) control illegal
dumping habit through strict laws and regulations and community education about solid waste,
ii) changing the waste collection frequency from two-week period to one week to control
decomposition of solid waste before final disposal, iii) provision and educating people to
mainly use sacks as most preferred material to collect waste