The Public –Private Sector Approach to Municipal Solid Waste Management: How does it Work in Makindye Division, Kampala District, Uganda?

It has been argued that the partnering of public and private sectors lead to improvement and betterment in the delivery of municipal social services. The purpose of this study was therefore to find out if, how and why the involvement of the private sector has led to better municipal solid waste management in Kampala’s Makindye Division. I try to analyze the roles and relationships between the public and private actors, the constraints hampering success and finally suggest mechanisms of bettering the partnership. A qualitative approach involving interviews, Focus Group Discussions, observations and photography was used to gather the necessary primary data, while reference to relevant literature provided me with the much needed secondary data. Key informants from the public sector included officials from Kampala City Council, Makindye Division and The National Environment Management Authority; while those from the formal private sector included the Director and field staff of HOMEKLIN Limited and DOT services Limited. The scavengers at the Kiteezi landfill were my informal private respondents. The Director of Urban Community in Development Association (a local Community Based Organization), the Local Council II Chairpersons together with some of the local community members of Katwe I and Luwafu parishes represented the civil society. The study was based on the Actor-Oriented Approach theory as well as on governance perspectives. The study reveals that despite the lack of measures that ensure reduction, reuse and recycling of solid wastes by the respective actors, an improvement in the management of domestic solid wastes in Makindye Division has resulted from the partnership. Metal recycling and organic waste compositing is privately undertaken by a local Community Based Organization which is not in any way supported by the Division authority. The introduction of waste transfer points and smaller vehicles supplemented by the use of wheelbarrows has increased access to areas that were previously unreachable. Also the adherence to the collection schedule by HOMEKLIN Limited has greatly contributed to an efficient collection of waste from the medium to high income communities of Luwafu parish where there are numerous paying subscribers. However, the low commitment of Makindye Administration in ensuring that it meets its financial obligations of subsidizing waste collection in the low income areas, corruption and patronage of some Division Officials are hindering the success of the programme. This is particularly common in the low income areas of Katwe I parish. The study further reveals that despite being perceived as an ethnic and low caste activity, waste scavenging plays a very crucial role of recovering and reusing materials and ultimately reduce the amount of waste that is finally disposed of. However, the existing legislation does not recognize scavengers as important actors. Much as it deals with a mixture of hazardous and non hazardous waste, the waste disposal operations of DOT Services Limited are meeting acceptable environmental standards. However, the absence of effluent gas monitoring and tapping equipment at the landfill is posing a potential environmental hazard. The study makes a number of recommendations ranging from administrative overhauls at Makindye Division, waste management policy amendments in regard to reduction, recycling and reuse of materials together with the recognition of informal private waste collectors and scavengers, technical improvements by the private waste collectors and finally economic investments by the Division as a way of reducing dependence on central government remittances