Soroti Market Garbage Crisis Sparks Health Fears as Waste Piles Block Roads
Soroti, Uganda — A mounting garbage crisis at Soroti Main Market has left traders and residents grappling with foul odors, blocked roads, and growing fears of disease outbreaks. Piles of uncollected waste, including rotting meat and fish scraps, have overwhelmed the market, disrupting business and raising alarms over public health risks.
Mounting Waste, Mounting Frustration
The situation has reached a breaking point at Gate Four, where an overflowing garbage skip has spilled onto the road, forcing motorists and pedestrians to navigate a shrinking pathway. Vendors say the stench has driven customers away, while swarms of flies have made working conditions unbearable.
Madina Akwi, a trader operating near the waste heaps, says complaints to market administrators have gone unanswered. “The smell is suffocating, and customers avoid our stalls,” she told Nexio News. “This isn’t just bad for business—it’s a health disaster waiting to happen.”
Akwi and other traders are demanding dedicated waste management staff at the market, arguing that relying solely on city authorities has failed to solve the recurring problem.
Roads Blocked, Business Suffers
The garbage has spilled beyond the market, encroaching on nearby roads like Eastern Street. Fish vendor Ivan Opolot warns that if the waste isn’t cleared soon, the street could become completely impassable.
“The city keeps promising solutions, but nothing changes,” Opolot said. “If customers can’t reach us, our livelihoods are at risk—and so are the taxes the government collects from us.”
He urged officials to reinvest market revenue into garbage trucks and better waste management systems.
Officials Point to Equipment Failures, Illegal Dumping
Soroti City Deputy Town Clerk Joseph Mwesigwa blamed the delays on a broken bulldozer, which required a 15-million-shilling repair. He assured residents that waste collection would resume by Wednesday now that the machine is fixed.
Meanwhile, health inspector Janet Arionget cited illegal nighttime dumping as a key contributor to the crisis. Authorities have begun arresting offenders and requiring them to register with licensed waste disposal firms.
Market administrator Stella Aarakit acknowledged the growing sanitation emergency, noting that garbage has piled up since the last collection at the Aminit landfill site.
A Persistent Problem with No Easy Fix
In 2023, Soroti City outsourced waste management to private companies, but the ongoing crisis has exposed gaps in the system. Traders and health officials alike are calling for a long-term strategy to prevent future breakdowns.
With the rainy season approaching, concerns are mounting that stagnant water and decomposing waste could trigger disease outbreaks. For now, vendors and customers must endure the stench and hazards—hoping for a solution before the situation worsens.
— Reported by Nexio News
