Former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka and her colleagues, David Luyimbazi and Dr. Daniel Okello, have been formally charged with manslaughter by the Kasangati Chief Magistrates Court. The charges relate to their alleged negligence in managing the Kiteezi landfill, which resulted in a disaster earlier this year, claiming the lives of at least 35 people.
On Friday, October 18, 2024, the court read out the charges, which fall under Section 171 of the Penal Code Act. The prosecution alleges that the trio neglected their duties, specifically failing to take essential measures that could have prevented the tragedy at the landfill.
The Kiteezi landfill, one of the largest waste disposal sites in Kampala, collapsed on August 10, 2024, following heavy rainfall. The landfill's collapse led to the deaths of residents nearby, whose homes were buried under a mass of garbage. The charge sheet outlines that between July 2020 and August 2024, the accused neglected their responsibilities, failed to secure necessary permits, and did not close or decommission the site despite warnings about its unsafe conditions.
The officials are also accused of not evacuating the residents living near the landfill, leading to the catastrophic loss of life.
Dorothy Kisaka, David Luyimbazi, and Dr. Daniel Okello were interrogated at the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) headquarters on October 16, after which they were detained overnight.
They now face charges of criminal negligence in connection with the landfill disaster, with further court hearings expected in the coming weeks.
