Kampala Waste Crisis: Lukwago Plans Transition

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called an emergency stakeholders’ meeting for Thursday, September 26, to discuss the transition at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). This follows the dismissal of three senior technical officials by President Yoweri Museveni. The sacked officials include Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, Deputy Executive Director Eng. David Luyimbazi, and Director of Public Health Dr. Daniel Okello, who were removed due to alleged criminal negligence related to the Kiteezi landfill disaster.

The Kiteezi landfill, located in Wakiso District, serves the entire city of Kampala, Wakiso, and parts of Mukono. It collapsed last month, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 35 people and leaving others injured. The landfill spans 36 acres and is Kampala’s only facility for waste management.

Lukwago, addressing the media at City Hall on Wednesday, mentioned that he has invited Members of Parliament and mayors from Kampala’s five divisions—Central, Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa, and Rubaga—as well as other city leaders to attend the meeting. He noted that the agenda would focus on managing the leadership transition at KCCA.

In an interview, Lukwago explained that with the dismissal of key officials, there is currently no accounting officer at KCCA, which has brought formal administrative processes to a halt. “We are unable to hold structured meetings such as those of the Central Executive Committee (CEC), and both the City Hall council and the division councils cannot convene,” Lukwago said. “We must find an interim solution to address the current situation.”

Lukwago emphasized that it is crucial to establish a temporary management structure to guide the city through this transition period, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned. He expressed concern that the city’s operations currently appear disjointed, and urged for a unified platform to handle ongoing challenges.

One of the major issues under discussion will be garbage collection, a responsibility previously managed by an interim committee headed by the now-dismissed Luyimbazi and deputized by Dr. Okello, who was also relieved of his duties. It is unclear who will now oversee waste management in the city, and this will be a key topic at the emergency meeting.

President Museveni’s decision to sack the three officials came just days after chaos erupted during a meeting at KCCA City Hall over the city’s growing waste management crisis. The National Unity Platform (NUP) party, which dominates the 54-member KCCA council with over 40 councillors, has been highly critical of the handling of the crisis.

Last week, during a council meeting on September 17, NUP councillors accused KCCA’s executive committee of failing to provide a timely report on the worsening waste management situation. Lukwago, a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, which has only three KCCA councillors, rejected the accusations the following day.

Kampala’s waste management challenges have been a costly affair. Data obtained by New Vision reveals that KCCA spent sh4.1 billion in the last financial year (2023/24) to manage the Kiteezi landfill. A significant portion of these funds was allocated to hiring equipment for waste management.

KCCA’s efforts to maintain the landfill, particularly during the rainy season, have required significant expenditure on specialized equipment. However, with the collapse of the landfill and the subsequent dismissal of key officials, the future of the city’s waste management strategy remains uncertain.