Police have arrested and detained sacked Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) top shots after appearing at the CID headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday morning.
Police on Monday announced they had summoned former KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, former Deputy Executive Director David Luyimbazi, and former Director of Public Health and Environment, Dr Daniel Okello.
“They have appeared at CID headquarters today, October 16, 2024 and engaged with our team,” said police in a statement today.
“Arising from the ongoing prosecution-led investigation, the three former officials of KCCA have been detained and will be arraigned before courts law.”
President Museveni recently fired KCCA’s top shots over the Kiteezi Landfill disaster in which dozens perished.
The presidency said Museveni’s decision was in the public interest due to significant evidence of criminal negligence.
The high mountain of garbage at Kiteezi collapsed on August 10, killing dozens of people, burying houses, killing livestock, and destroying other property.
State House said the IGG’s report clearly outlined the severe oversight and negligence exhibited by these officials.
Negligence
It recently came to light that Kisaka was briefed and warned about the imminent danger at Kiteezi Landfill a month before the collapse of the rubbish heap.
Kisaka also was advised on what remedies to put in place to prevent the disaster at Kiteezi landfill, which had served as Kampala’s primary waste disposal site since 1996.
In a memo dated July 2, 2024, the Director of Public Health and Environment, Dr. Daniel Okello Ayen, informed Kisaka that the Kiteezi garbage dumping site had operated beyond capacity and posed an imminent threat to the community.
“Kiteezi Landfill is currently facing severe operational challenges due to its continued use beyond capacity, which has led to the formation of waste cliffs and unstable slopes. This poses risks to both waste management efficiency and community safety,” the memo reads in part.
The memo reads that on June 28, 2024, cracks and waste slides were observed in the north-eastern part of the landfill.
Kisaka defended her management against accusations of negligence.
“Had we been negligent and not done anything about the Kiteezi issue, I would be the first to say I resign. I cannot run away from this challenge before I finish what we started. We care a lot about Kampala. It is our City,” said Kisaka during a talk show after the Kiteezi incident