The Unsuspected Role of Waste Sorting in Security: OPINION – Sabasaba Updates

By Twiine M. Charles

As a full-time student of security, i have notice with concern that waste sorting, a seemingly mundane task, should be a crucial security measure among others.

In 2022, a vigilant waste collector on a garbage truck enroute to the now infamous Kitezi, discovered suspicious tins with terrorist-related writings, leading to a police investigation and disruption of a planned terrorist attack in Kampala.

This incident underscores the significance of effective waste sorting mechanisms in uncovering and preventing security threats, as well as the importance of community vigilance in detecting potential security risks.

This is one of many reasons why waste management efforts must prioritize security and making it a concern for all authorities handling large volumes of urban waste nationwide.

KCCA, being the largest center of waste collection, should collaborate with the police to emphasize the importance of waste sorting in maintaining public safety, adhering to ISO security guidelines by tracking and monitoring materials that are hazardous and potential clues to detect vicious crimes like terrorism. By working together, we can transform waste sorting into a vital security measure, protecting and serving our community.

To achieve a crime-free society, we must acknowledge the significance of waste sorting in our homes, offices, and public waste collection points to maintain public safety and security collectively. The effects of crime are indiscriminate, and together we can make a difference by properly addressing some of the clues that may look pretty, but yet very cataclysmic.

My opinion, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, anchors on the Broken Windows theory (Wilson & Kelling, 1982), which states that small, seemingly insignificant acts of disorder can create an environment conducive to potential crimes.

By addressing these small issues through effective waste sorting, urban authorities can complement law enforcement agencies in preventing emerging security threats.

Protect & Serve

Twiine M. Charles is a Security Analyst/Practitioner