The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water and Environment has called for urgent action to address environmental challenges at Pugu Kinyamwezi dumpsite and Ng’ombe River, with MPs pushing for better waste management, health assessments for nearby residents and stronger protection of surrounding communities.
The committee made the call on Saturday, October 17, 2026, during an inspection visit to assess the implementation of directives issued by Vice-President Deogratius Ndejembi on September 18, 2026, to address environmental concerns in the two areas.
Speaking after the visit, the committee’s vice-chairperson, Prof Pius Zebhe Yanda, said authorities needed a comprehensive plan to improve the management of the Pugu dumpsite and protect people living nearby.
“We need a clear and effective plan for managing the Pugu dumpsite. It is also important to assess the health of residents living near the facility and construct a fence to prevent settlements from expanding towards the dumpsite,” he said.
Prof Yanda said effective oversight and appropriate measures were necessary to address environmental concerns and safeguard nearby communities.
Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office responsible for Environment, Reuben Kwagilwa, said securing an investor to process waste at the facility was essential to improving its management.
“The government needs to secure an investor who will undertake waste processing at the Pugu dumpsite,” he said.
Mr Kwagilwa said waste processing would help improve the handling of waste and reduce its environmental impact on people living in surrounding areas.
He also directed the Dar es Salaam City Council to work closely with relevant institutions, including the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), to ensure the project was not delayed.
“The city council must cooperate with all relevant institutions, including NEMC, to ensure the project moves forward without unnecessary delays,” he said.
Earlier, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila told the committee that population growth and infrastructure constraints were contributing to the region’s waste management challenges.
He said Dar es Salaam covered approximately 1,300 square kilometres and had a population of more than 5.3 million people, according to the 2022 Population and Housing Census.
“With a population of more than 5.3 million people, Dar es Salaam generates large quantities of waste every day. However, infrastructure challenges mean that only a small proportion of the waste reaches the dumpsite,” he said.
Mr Chalamila’s presentation highlighted the pressure that population growth places on waste collection and transportation systems, underscoring the need to strengthen infrastructure and improve waste management services.
The committee’s visit aimed to assess progress in implementing the Vice-President’s directives and identify additional measures needed to address environmental challenges at Pugu dumpsite and Ng’ombe River.
The proposed interventions include improved waste processing, stronger coordination among government institutions and measures to protect communities living near affected areas.
