Uganda has secured more than $600 million in funding from the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) to improve infrastructure and tackle waste management issues in its capital, Kampala. The funding comes as the city faces growing challenges, including inadequate roads and waste disposal systems, which have been exacerbated by rapid urban expansion and chronic underfunding.
Of the total funds, $566 million will be provided by the World Bank, largely in the form of credit, while AFD will contribute $42.7 million. The move comes after a tragic incident last month where a garbage landslide at a landfill on the outskirts of Kampala claimed the lives of at least 35 people, highlighting the urgent need for better waste management.
The World Bank emphasized that rapid urbanization has exposed “significant gaps in infrastructure” in Kampala, making the funding crucial for the city’s development. This assistance follows the World Bank’s earlier decision to halt lending to Uganda after the country passed an anti-LGBTQ law last year.
