Published on 05/09/2024
The Kiteezi landfill collapse which tragically took 34 lives has ignited controversy over the missing persons count.
Parliament’s Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) is pushing for answers after Kampala Capital City Authority’s (KCCA) Minister Minsa Kabanda clarified that only 11 people are still unaccounted for, contradicting earlier claims of 28 missing. The discrepancy has fueled public outrage and confusion.

Appearing before COSASE, Minister Kabanda clarified that initial figures provided by some officials were speculative, emphasizing that the official number of missing individuals, as confirmed by the Office of the Prime Minister, stands at 11.
“We rescued 18 people alive, recovered 35 bodies, and are missing 11. These are the confirmed numbers,” Kabanda said. However, the lack of coordination among government officials has caused confusion, with MPs raising concerns about the inconsistencies.
COSASE Chairperson Medard Sseggona questioned the variation, noting that during their visit to Kiteezi, a local official had reported 28 missing individuals. “Now you tell us it’s 11. Have additional bodies been recovered that we don’t know about?” Sseggona asked.
Other MPs, including Charles Bakabulindi and Allan Mayanja, demanded evidence to support the numbers presented by KCCA, calling for accurate figures to ensure rightful compensation for victims’ families. “We need to know the actual number of people affected. This will guide us in compensating the rightful individuals,” Bakabulindi stressed.
Dorothy Kisaka, KCCA’s Executive Director, defended the figures, stating that the numbers were derived from reports issued by the Prime Minister’s office. “There has been speculation, but we centralize our reporting to the Office of the Prime Minister for accuracy,” Kisaka explained. She added that the landfill’s capacity had been expanded to accommodate additional waste, though funding remains a challenge.
The meeting also touched on the Kiteezi landfill’s deteriorating condition. According to the December 2023 Auditor General’s report, the landfill was overfilled, posing health risks to the surrounding community. “The facility is a health and environmental hazard, and urgent measures are needed,” the report warned.
Minister Kabanda also denied claims that local residents had encroached on the landfill, explaining that garbage had overtaken nearby properties, with many residents holding legitimate land titles.
As the COSASE probe continues, MPs are pushing for accountability and a clear resolution to the waste management crisis, which has left families of the victims still awaiting compensation. The Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, has threatened to sue the government if no action is taken, accusing KCCA and the authorities of negligence.
The tragedy has highlighted the need for a comprehensive waste management plan, as Ssenyonyi pointed out: “In 2024, people are dying under garbage heaps while other countries turn waste into energy. KCCA must present a concrete plan to prevent future disasters.”
The Kiteezi landfill collapse has not only raised questions about KCCA’s management but also drawn attention to the broader issue of Kampala’s waste disposal, as Parliament seeks to hold those responsible accountable.