Uganda has secured over $600 million in funding from the World Bank and French Development Agency (AFD) to improve infrastructure and enhance waste management in the capital, Kampala, according to statements from the government and the World Bank on Thursday.
Chronic underfunding has plagued the city, leading to frequent complaints from residents about poor roads and ineffective waste management.
Just last month, a garbage landslide at a landfill on Kampala’s outskirts claimed the lives of at least 35 people.
Of the total funding, $566 million—primarily in credit—will be provided by the World Bank, while AFD will contribute $42.7 million.
The World Bank highlighted that “rapid urban expansion has exposed significant gaps in infrastructure”.
Last year, the organization had halted lending to Uganda after the country passed a severe anti-gay law.
However, it did not immediately respond to a Reuters inquiry seeking clarification on the lifting of the aid ban.