Court has granted bail to three embattled former officials of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA); Dorothy Kisaka, David Luyimbazi, and Daniel Okello following charges linked to the August 10, 2024, Kiteezi landfill disaster. The tragedy claimed 35 lives and left 21 others injured.
The court set cash bail of Shs5 million Ugandan for each of the accused, while their sureties are to execute a non-cash bond of 100 million shillings. Additionally, the former KCCA officials are required to surrender their original passports and are prohibited from leaving Uganda without prior court approval. The case has been adjourned until November 26.
Prominent media analyst Andrew Mwenda has criticized the arrests, suggesting that they serve more as a placatory measure than a genuine effort to address underlying issues.
Mwenda contends that the real cause of the disaster lies in the government’s persistent underfunding of waste management and its neglect of Kampala’s infrastructure.
According to KCCA, the Kiteezi landfill had long exceeded its capacity. Despite repeated requests from the authority for funds to decommission the site, no action was taken, leaving the landfill in a critical state.
However, a report by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) implicated two Kampala ministers and the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ramathan Ggoobi, in the Kiteezi Landfill disaster. The report attributed part of the blame to the ministers, citing lapses in oversight and poor management of the waste disposal crisis at Kiteezi, which has put residents’ health and safety at risk.
The COSASE report specifically highlights the ministers’ failure to address the longstanding waste management issues at Kiteezi, allowing the situation to escalate into a disaster. Furthermore, PSST Ggoobi is held accountable for withholding funds necessary for decommissioning the Kiteezi Landfill, a critical step in resolving the waste management problems. Despite repeated calls for intervention, the funds were allegedly withheld, causing delays in closing the site and exacerbating the hazardous conditions.
The Kiteezi Landfill disaster has been a ticking time bomb, with the site reaching its capacity as far back as 2015. The tragedy has claimed dozens of lives and highlighted the grave shortcomings of the government’s waste management and governance.
The former KCCA officials have since been arrested, charged, and remanded to Luzura prison until November 4, 2024. They face allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and environmental regulation violations contributing to the disaster.
The COSASE report’s findings sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for greater accountability and urgent reforms in Uganda’s waste management sector. As the investigation continues, the nation awaits justice for the lives lost and affected by the Kiteezi landfill disaster.
