(Kampala) — Members of Parliament on the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) have recommended the arrest and prosecution of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) ministers and the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ramathan Ggoobi, over their alleged failure to prevent the Kiteezi landfill tragedy. The collapse of the landfill in Wakiso on August 10, 2024, claimed 35 lives.
The legislators accuse Hajjati Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for KCCA and Metropolitan Affairs, and her deputy, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, of acting too slowly to address the deteriorating situation at the landfill, despite warnings from KCCA officials. This accusation is contained in a report presented to Parliament on October 17, 2024, by COSASE Chairperson Medard Lubega Ssegona.
According to the report, former KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisakka had informed the Treasury in June 2023 about the urgent need for funding to build a new landfill in Mukono District, but the request went unanswered. Kisakka’s letter detailed that Kiteezi, operational since 1996, had exceeded its capacity, handling around 30,000 tonnes of waste per month.
KCCA’s estimates showed that constructing and operating the new Ddundu landfill would require shillings 235.5 billion for capital costs and shillings 19.4 billion annually for 15 years. However, the government did not release the required funds, leaving KCCA with a viability gap of shillings 175.5 billion.
The Kiteezi landfill had been operating far beyond its capacity, leading to safety concerns. KCCA Director of Health, Dr. Daniel Ayen Okello, had warned Kisakka in July 2024 of imminent danger, highlighting the risk of waste slides and drainage blockages. His warning predicted costly litigation and potential loss of life, but no action was taken.
While the report focuses on the inaction of the ministers, it also criticizes Kisakka, who is currently under arrest along with her deputy, Eng. David Luyimbazi. COSASE faulted Kisakka for ignoring Okello’s warnings and not taking urgent action.
On August 10, 2024, part of the Kiteezi landfill collapsed, killing 35 people. The tragedy underscored the pressing need for a new landfill and better management of waste disposal in the rapidly growing city. KCCA had already secured a 135 acre site in Ddundu, Mukono District, but delays in its development contributed to the crisis at Kiteezi.
| Landfill Collapse Details | Date | Waste Volume at Kiteezi | Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tragic collapse of Kiteezi landfill | August 10, 2024 | 30,000 tonnes per month | 35 people |
In the aftermath, COSASE has called for those responsible to be held accountable. The committee specifically wants Kabanda, Kyofatogabye, and Ggoobi to face prosecution for negligence. They argue that these officials should have acted sooner, given the clear warnings and the hazardous condition of the landfill.
The Kiteezi landfill, located 14 kilometers north of Kampala in Lusanja village, was Uganda’s only sanitary-engineered landfill. Built in 1996, it was initially meant to serve Kampala and its surrounding towns. However, the city’s population grew from 1 million in 1996 to 2.5 million in 2024, increasing the volume of waste to unmanageable levels.
In response to the disaster, Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Ssegona presented the COSASE report to Parliament, recommending that urgent measures be taken to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
