Uganda, May 6 -- Piles of uncollected garbage and a pungent stench have overwhelmed Soroti Central Market, disrupting business and raising health concerns after waste went uncollected for more than three days.

The worst-affected area is Gate Four, where an overflowing skip and heaps of waste have blocked access routes, hindering vendors, customers and transport in Soroti City.

City officials attributed the backlog to a breakdown of a landfill compactor, which halted waste collection.

"The landfill compactor has been down and that stalled our collections of garbage but by Wednesday we shall be able to resume with the collection," Soroti City Deputy Town Clerk Joseph Mwesigwa told Monitor.

He said the compactor has since been repaired, ...