The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Unity Platform President, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi-Wine says the recent garbage disaster at Kiteezi was a result of negligence on the part of KCCA and the Museveni government.
Kyagulanyi says with all the warnings, the disaster that claimed the lives of Ugandans would have been prevented had there been early warning mechanisms. He saiid it was not an environmental accident but a preventable consequence of government negligence.
“This was not an environmental issue like those landslides we have witnessed in Kasese or Bududa. This has been known by KCCA and parliament, because the area woman MP Naluyima Ethel brought this concern of Kiteezi to the flow of parliament, but nothing was done, it was ignored,” Kyagulanyi noted.
He said that the acquisition of land in Dundu and Kasenge, Mukono, was evidence that Kiteezi was meant to be shut down. Instead, the government’s inaction allowed the dangerous site to continue operating.
Kyagulanyi, accompanied by other NUP leaders on Monday paid a visit to the victims of the incident that occurred on 10 August 2024. Some of the victims are still being held at Kiteezi Church of Uganda Primary School.
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi demanded the arrest and prosecution of officials who neglected their duties leading to the Kiteezi disaster.
“We demand justice for these people, ever since the tragedy happened, no one has been arrested, yet we all know this was not a disaster, government knew about. So, we ant them to have get justice by having people who negligent for their jobs, but also government should compensate them.” Ssenyonyi said.
Ssenyonyi said the government’s failure to prioritize the welfare and safety of its citizens, have started resulting in unnecessary loss of life and suffering among Ugandans.
“These victims are demanding justice in 2 ways; all officials who slept on the job should be held responsible since this disaster was anticipated, and then compensation so they can find where to live instead of staying in a camp”
The NUP contributed some relief items to the victims.
Recently Eng. David Luyimbazi, Deputy Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), told URN that although KCCA was aware that the Kiteezi landfill had reached its maximum capacity, they were unable to relocate due to insufficient funding.
Meanwhile the Kampala Metropolitan Patrick Onyango has said that rescue operations are ongoing to recover additional bodies trapped beneath the garbage. He noted that due to the condition of the retrieved bodies, DNA testing will be necessary for identification in cases where visual recognition is impossible.
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