Ex-KCCA top leaders charged with manslaughter and other charges

19 October 2024, 11:31 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

On 10th, August 2024, the Kiteezi landfill collapsed killing 35 according to Uganda Police and leaving others with injuries and some homeless. It is against this background that the president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni decided to dismiss the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director, Dorothy Kisaka, her deputy, David Luyimbazi Sali and the director public health, Dr. Daniel Okello. In his letter, the president directed Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to carry on the investigations on the three officials. On Wednesday this week, former; KCCA ED, her deputy and director public health, took themselves to the CID headquarters in Kampala. After recording a statement, they were driven to two different police stations where they spent two nights.

On Thursday, police took them to their houses and a search was made. Yesterday, Dorothy Kisaka, the former Executive Director (ED), Engineer David Luyimbazi, the former deputy executive director and the former director of public health, Doctor Daniel Okello, were brought to Kasangati magistrate’s court at approximately 11:32 am. Court session commenced, after some time. The three were expected to take a plea on charges of Kiteezi tragedy, however, they were charged with 57 accounts including manslaughter by the chief magistrate Beatrice Khainza and are expected to return to court on 4th, November,2024.

Much as the lawyer for the former executive director wanted his client to be granted court bail sighting some reasons, this was denied by court. The ex-executive director was detained at Kira division police headquarters before appearing for formal charges. Kisaka took over the leadership of KCCA on 12th, June,2020 following the resignation of Jennifer Musisi on 15th, April,2018. Who was the first KCCA executive director.

In addition, the Acting Executive Director of KCCA, Mr Frank Rusa, revealed that some cracks were sighted at the west side of Kiteezi landfill slope, thus indicating that a looming tragedy if people still living in the buffer zone don’t leave. Rusa made the revelation this week, while appearing before the presidential affairs committee where he had been summoned to update Members of Parliament on progress of compensation and solutions to waste management in Kampala district.

Kiteezi was a dump site and every year, at least Shillings 4.1 billion was allocated to manage the site. It is said that the engineer abandoned the place and left the brother in charge before the tragedy. A Private contractor has been given Shillings 2.1 million daily for a dysfunction grader to compress garbage. according to the report.

At the court session, the Prime Minister of Busoga kingdom, Joseph Muvawala and his deputy, Osman Noor Ahmed were present among other people.