Uganda is no stranger to tragedy, but when the Kiteezi landfill collapsed in Wakiso, burying over 35 people alive, even the most hardened Kampala residents gasped in horror. Now, as the dust (and probably a few kilos of garbage) settles, the police have moved in to arrest the top Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials who were sacked in the aftermath.
On Wednesday, October 16, the police nabbed former KCCA executive director Dorothy Kisaka, her deputy Eng. David Luyimbazi, and the once proud public health director, Dr. Daniel Okello, after some intense grilling at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) in Kibuli, Kampala. You could almost imagine Kisaka being driven off in that police van thinking, “Eh, this isn’t the office car I’m used to.”
Kisaka was whisked away to Kira Division Police Station while Luyimbazi and Okello were taken to Nateete Police Station. Their crime? Alleged negligence of the Kiteezi landfill that, when it gave way, managed to bury more than just waste—it buried lives, homes, and careers.
Now, Kiteezi isn’t your ordinary village rubbish pit. This is a 36 acre monster of a landfill, the only one responsible for swallowing the garbage of Kampala, Wakiso, and even Mukono. And when it collapsed on August 10, it sent shockwaves that even reached State House. President Yoweri Museveni himself had to step in, firing the three officials in a dramatic sacking last month, citing “public interest.”
Museveni didn’t mince his words. The findings of the Inspector General of Government (IGG) painted a grim picture of “severe oversight and negligence.” And as we all know, the last thing you want is to be caught napping when the IGG points her finger in your direction. In this case, the finger pointed directly at Kisaka, Luyimbazi, and Okello, who, according to the State House, bore responsibility for the “distressful” collapse of the landfill. “Distressful” is putting it mildly. Kampala’s streets were littered with garbage as far as the eye could see, and not the sort you can sweep under the rug.
Now, when the KCCA officials were handed their walking papers, it wasn’t done quietly behind some mahogany desk. No, this was Uganda, where even a handover is an event. Kisaka handed over to Frank Rusa, Luyimbazi passed the baton to Robert Nowere, and Okello passed his seat to Dr. Sarah Zalwango. All of this was done under the watchful eyes of Kampala’s Minister, Hajjati Minsa Kabanda, and state minister Kabuye Kyofatogabye.
But let’s get back to the police, who are now tightening the screws. CID, on orders from President Museveni, are sniffing around like dogs at a cattle auction. They want to know if this whole Kiteezi debacle goes beyond just gross negligence. Could there be criminal negligence involved? Ugandan history tells us that when big men (and women) fall, they rarely fall alone.
In a country where corruption investigations often move slower than a traffic jam on Jinja Road, many are wondering if anything substantial will come out of this. This is not the first time top officials have been sacked, only to later resurface in cushy jobs after the dust settles. It’s like watching a musician retire, only to release a “final” album a few months later.
The Kiteezi tragedy has real victims—families who lost loved ones, homes destroyed, lives upended. This isn’t just another case of financial mismanagement or missing funds (though we’ve had our fair share of those too). People are dead, and if you listen closely, you can hear the rumbling of public outcry. Even Kampala’s chaotic boda boda riders have something to say about it as they swerve through potholes filled with trash.
What happens next? Well, that’s up to the CID, the courts, and of course, how loud the public keeps shouting. One thing is for sure though: Dorothy Kisaka, Eng. Luyimbazi, and Dr. Okello will be spending a few sleepless nights at the police stations, their government pensions probably feeling a little less secure with each passing hour.
Kiteezi Landfill Collapse Timeline
| Date | Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| August 10 | Kiteezi landfill collapses, killing over 35 people | Massive public outcry and calls for accountability |
| September 2024 | IGG report released, citing severe negligence | Museveni sacks Kisaka, Luyimbazi, and Okello in public interest |
| October 16 | CID detains the three sacked KCCA officials | Police investigate criminal negligence over the disaster |
Ugandans will be waiting to see if justice will be served or if this will be yet another case that gets swept under the proverbial rug. But with public interest in the tragedy still high, the CID and courts will be under pressure to deliver answers. Maybe this time, the KCCA officials will face real consequences—if not, we might just see them in new roles when the dust settles.
