The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has demanded that government, provides adequate compensation to the families affected by the tragic Kiteezi landfill disaster.
Addressing journalists at parliament, he attributed the tragedy to the negligence of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the government, saying that clear warnings were ignored, leading to the loss of lives and property.
The government has so far offered five million shillings to each of the bereaved families and one million shillings to those whose property was damaged.
Ssenyonyi criticized this compensation as grossly inadequate, stating, “Government should provide adequate compensation to the families who lost loved ones and those whose property were damaged in the disaster.” Ssenyonyi said
He added that if the government fails to meet this demand, the opposition is prepared to assist the affected families in taking Government to court.
Ssenyonyi has also expressed his disappointment with the government's lack of accountability in the aftermath of the disaster.
“Ugandans are still waiting for justice. We have not seen anyone being held responsible for what happened in Kiteezi.
This is unacceptable. The government must take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable,” he emphasized.
According to Ssenyonyi, there were clear warnings about the potential for a disaster at the Kiteezi landfill, which were allegedly ignored by both KCCA and the government.
He stressed that this negligence must not go unpunished, saying, “There were clear warnings that were not heeded by KCCA and the government.
This negligence must not go unpunished.”In addition to compensation and accountability, Ssenyonyi called on the government to intensify efforts to recover the bodies still buried under the garbage heaps at Kiteezi.
He underscored the importance of providing closure to the grieving families and ensuring that no more lives are lost due to negligence.
As the opposition continues to press the government on these issues, the affected families, and the nation at large, await further action.
