Management structure as a factor of performance of Solid Waste Management projects in African municipalities: A case of Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, western Uganda

Abstract

Solid waste production is growing exponentially, with stronger trends in developing countries. Uganda is facing rapid urbanization that offers not only new social and economic opportunities, but also more pronounced challenges, including waste management which is not coping with the population growth. Despite the financial support given towards solid waste management (SWM), there appears to be no apparent change. With a population growth of 4.8% per annum, the Bushenyi municipal waste problem is expected to worsen in future if its management is not taken seriously. This study was aimed at understanding how management structure has influenced the performance of a SWM project in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality. A mixed-method approach involving both quantitative and qualitative methods was employed in the study. The quantitative approach focused on counting and classifying features to explain what was observed, while the qualitative method, majorly Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), was used to provide a complete and detailed description of the existing situation in three Divisions of Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality. The study showed that the project management structure does not provide adequate and equitable representation for each of the participating stakeholders at different levels of the project for the day-today activities and supervisory roles. It is evident that low resource input is partly contributing to the 27% performance of the Solid Waste Management project. SWM should be implemented with a dedicated management structure with adequate and well-skilled personnel for supervision and monitoring. In addition, the budget for municipal solid waste management should be increased to enable the municipal authority to fund the projects effectively.

Assessment of the impact of moisture content on the heating value of Municipal solid waste from Kabagarame dumping site in Bushenyi District, Uganda

“…Waste characteristics are considered in the selection of technology of WtE that can be utilized [11][12][13]. More so, the energy potential of waste is a very critical component that is used to identify the amount of energy that can be extracted from the waste [14][15][16]. A WtE plant that was established recently in Ethiopia in Africa has attracted interest from several governments in Africa towards application of technologies that can extract energy from waste [17][18][19][20].…”

“…Also, the ash can be utilized as a material for construction in applications of concrete and asphalt [10]. The heat that is generated through the process of incineration can be used in operations of turbines that are vapor based and more so in the operations of heat exchangers [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. There is rapid urbanization; 5.1%/annum, and rise in population; 3.3%/annum, in Uganda and this has led to new economic and social opportunities and also more advanced challenges which include management of waste which is not tallying with the growth in population, slums development, overcrowding, settlements that are informal that have solid waste management (SWM) practices that are poor.…”

“…Anticipations say that urbanization in Uganda will hit 50 % by 2040 [12]. A lot of interventions to tackle poor WM have been undertaken by the country for example a credit of US$150 million for International Development Association (IDA) was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors to fund the infrastructure in urban areas and develop delivery of service in 14 municipalities in Uganda [13][14][15][16] .There has not been any visible change despite all the support financially offered towards SWM [14]. A tremendous venture confronting engineers and scientists in growing nations is the search for suitable answer for the treatment, collection and disposal or re-use of home waste to produce power.…”

Evaluation of the heating (Calorific) value of municipal wet solid waste from Kabagarame Dumping site in Bushenyi District, Uganda.

“…A lot of interventions to tackle poor WM have been undertaken by the country for example a credit of US$150 million for International Development Association (IDA) was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors to fund the infrastructure in urban areas and develop delivery of service in 14 municipalities in Uganda [15]. There has not been any visible change despite all the support financially offered towards SWM [16]. A tremendous venture confronting engineers and scientists in growing nations is the search for suitable answer for the treatment, collection and disposal or re-use of home waste to produce power [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”