Sacked KCCA Officials Under Investigation Following Landfill Collapse

Eng. David Luyimbazi, the former deputy executive director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), has expressed his readiness to be investigated following his dismissal in connection with the collapse of the Kiteezi landfill. His remarks came a day after President Yoweri Museveni ordered the removal of Luyimbazi, along with KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka and Public Health Director Dr. Daniel Okello, citing public interest.

The Kiteezi landfill, a 36 acre site that serves Kampala, Wakiso, and parts of Mukono, collapsed last month, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 35 people and leaving others injured. The disaster has raised serious questions about the management of waste in the city, with accusations of negligence being directed at the top officials of KCCA.

Luyimbazi, speaking to journalists on Wednesday, September 25, as he cleared his belongings from the KCCA offices at City Hall, said he is open to any investigation into the matter. “When you offer yourself to do this kind of work, you should always be ready to be subjected to any investigations. I will offer myself to be investigated,” he stated.

He acknowledged that the Kiteezi landfill had significant challenges, particularly a lack of funding. “We have to face the reality; you needed resources to decommission Kiteezi, to stop dumping garbage there, and to find a new dumping site. The resources were unavailable,” he explained.

Meanwhile, as Luyimbazi vacated his office, celebrations erupted nearby, where a group of KCCA street cleaners gathered to express their joy over the dismissal of the officials. The group, mostly women dressed in work gowns and carrying brooms, assembled at the Independence Monument near the Sheraton Hotel, chanting and dancing in protest of what they described as long-standing neglect by KCCA leadership.

The street cleaners claimed they had gone months without pay, accusing the sacked officials of failing to address their concerns. In January 2022, Kisaka had disclosed that KCCA employed over 4,000 cleaners, a figure revealed during an interview when questioned about delays in renewing the workers’ contracts.

In an attempt to resolve these issues, KCCA launched a verification exercise on March 4, 2024, to establish a register of all casual laborers, many of whom are members of savings and credit cooperative organizations. The verification aimed to ensure that payments could be made. However, by the time of the officials’ dismissal, it remained unclear whether the register had been completed.

President Museveni’s decision to dismiss the officials followed the release of a report by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), which detailed severe oversight and negligence on the part of the KCCA leadership regarding the Kiteezi disaster. The report, filed by Deputy IGG Anne Muhairwe, prompted a swift response from the President.

In a statement, State House said the President had ordered further investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and other agencies into potential criminal negligence in relation to the tragedy at Kiteezi. The statement emphasized that the decision was made to ensure accountability and maintain high standards of governance for the benefit of the public.

To expedite the leadership transition at KCCA, President Museveni directed the Public Service Commission to advertise the vacant positions of executive director, deputy executive director, and director of public health, with the aim of filling them within three months. In the meantime, the Minister for Kampala, Hajjati Minsa Kabanda, was tasked with recommending interim appointments to ensure continued operations at KCCA.

The President’s statement reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring accountability in public service and safeguarding the interests of all citizens.