- According to the prosecution's case, the accused failed to secure the necessary permits and licenses for the continued operation of the landfill.
- They allegedly ignored multiple warnings about the site’s risks to life and property.
- The collapse of parts of the landfill in August led to a disaster of unprecedented scale, resulting in dozens of deaths, injuries, and significant property damage.
Image: Courtesy
Former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, alongside former Deputy Executive Director David Luyimbazi and former Director of Public Health and Environment Dr. Daniel Okello, spent the weekend in to Luzira Prison where they were remanded over the tragic Kiteezi landfill disaster, which claimed over 34 lives.
The trio were on Friday charged with 34 counts of manslaughter and 23 counts of causing death by a rash or negligent act. The accused, pleaded not guilty to all charges when they appeared before Kasangati Chief Magistrate Beatrice Kainza who remanded them until November 4, 2024, as investigations into the matter continue.
Prosecution, led by Lillian Omara and Stanley Baine representing the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), argues that Kisaka, Luyimbazi, and Okello, along with other unnamed individuals, were criminally negligent in their handling of the Kiteezi landfill. The prosecution claims that between July 2020 and August 10, 2024, the accused failed to take appropriate measures to manage the Kiteezi landfill in Lusanja Village, Kasangati Town Council in Wakiso District, despite clear signs of imminent danger to public health and safety.
According to the prosecution's case, the accused failed to secure the necessary permits and licenses for the continued operation of the landfill. More crucially, they allegedly ignored multiple warnings about the site’s risks to life and property. The collapse of parts of the landfill in August led to a disaster of unprecedented scale, resulting in dozens of deaths, injuries, and significant property damage.
The prosecution asserts that the accused were responsible for the safety and proper management of the landfill and that their unlawful acts and omissions directly led to the tragic loss of life. The charges carry severe penalties, with the manslaughter charges alone attracting a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if proven.
Among the charges laid against the former KCCA officials is a failure to act on several reports highlighting the dangers posed by the Kiteezi landfill. Witness testimonies and documents presented by the prosecution indicate that the officials had been repeatedly warned of potential structural weaknesses at the landfill, especially during periods of heavy rain.
"The accused, who held positions of responsibility, were grossly negligent in their duty to safeguard the lives of people living near the landfill. By ignoring professional advice and continuing operations without necessary permits, they displayed reckless disregard for human life," lead prosecutor Lillian Omara told the court.
The former KCCA officials have enlisted a formidable defense team comprising top-tier legal minds. Senior lawyer Fred Muwema, renowned for handling high-profile cases, and former Buganda premier Apollo Makubuya are leading the defense. The defense team is preparing to challenge the prosecution’s claims, likely arguing that their clients took reasonable steps to manage the landfill and that the disaster was not caused by negligence but by unforeseeable circumstances.
Magistrate Beatrice Kainza has ordered the defense team to file formal bail applications, including sureties, before the November 4 hearing date.
The Kiteezi landfill has long been a point of contention in Kampala’s urban planning landscape. It has been plagued by issues related to overcapacity, poor waste management practices, and environmental risks. Local residents have repeatedly called for its closure, but KCCA officials had previously argued that the landfill was a critical component of the city's waste disposal system.