Former KCCA Officials Charged over Kiteezi Landfill Disaster

Former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, along with former Deputy Director David Luyimbazi and ex-Director of Health Services Dr. Daniel Okello, appeared in Kasangati Chief Magistrate's Court on manslaughter charges following the tragic collapse of the Kiteezi landfill in Wakiso District. The August 2024 disaster claimed 35 lives, prompting widespread calls for accountability.

The three former officials were accused of negligence in managing the landfill, which had been flagged as a hazard for years. According to reports, the landfill’s poor management and overcapacity led to the collapse, putting both the environment and nearby communities at risk.

President Yoweri Museveni fired the officials earlier this month following an Inspector General of Government (IGG) report that pointed to serious failures in KCCA’s waste management practices. The IGG’s findings were critical of KCCA’s failure to act on warnings about the landfill's dangers, leading to the fatal collapse.

"As the top KCCA officials responsible for the city's waste management, their oversight contributed to this tragedy, and they must be held accountable," a police spokesperson stated after the court appearance.

The former officials were detained following an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID).