Stench and Garbage Pile Up Disrupt Business in Soroti Central Market.
By Skika Reporter.
Piles of uncollected garbage and a pungent stench have engulfed Soroti Central Market, disrupting trade and raising serious health concerns after waste went uncollected for more than three days
The situation is most severe at Gate Four, where an overflowing skip and mounds of rotting waste have blocked access routes, making it difficult for vendors, customers, and transport operators to move freely within Soroti City.
City authorities blamed the crisis on a breakdown of a landfill compactor, which brought garbage collection to a halt.
Deputy Town Clerk Joseph Mwesigwa said the equipment has since been repaired and operations are expected to resume.
The landfill compactor has been down and that stalled our collection of garbage, but by Wednesday, we shall be able to resume, he said, noting the machine’s importance in compressing waste at disposal sites.
According to City Environment Officer Francis Ediau, Soroti generates approximately 165 tonnes of waste daily but collects only 20.7 tonnes, leaving a large portion unmanaged.
He added that about 74 per cent of the waste is organic, while plastics account for 22 per cent.
The high proportion of decomposing organic waste is fueling the foul smell and attracting flies, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
“Communities are less concerned about using natural processes to manage organic waste, and most of it ends up in landfills or ungazetted dumping points,” Ediau said.
He encouraged residents to convert organic waste into manure, arguing that it could boost agricultural productivity while easing pressure on the city’s waste management system.
Market administrator Stella Aarakit said the garbage has been piling up since Saturday, with the last collection carried out on Friday and transported to the Aminit Landfill.
“The situation is very bad and has created an unpleasant environment, but the authorities are trying all they can,” she said.
Health inspector Janet Arionget attributed part of the problem to illegal dumping by residents at night.
“Some residents dump garbage at night, yet enforcement is difficult because we cannot monitor the area throughout the night,” she said.
Authorities have begun arresting offenders and requiring them to register with licensed waste collection firms.
Although Soroti City contracted private companies in 2023 to manage solid waste, gaps in enforcement and limited infrastructure continue to undermine effective garbage collection.
