Published on 15/08/2024
Members of Parliament have condemned the government for its failure to manage the Kiteezi landfill which collapsed over the weekend resulting in the deaths of at least 24 people with many others feared trapped in the debris.
The emotional debate took place during Tuesday’s plenary session, following a status report by State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Lillian Aber.
Several legislators, who had previously visited the Kiteezi landfill in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, warned that the site posed a significant danger and should have been decommissioned.
Kyadondo East MP Muwada Nkunyingi, whose constituency includes the landfill, expressed his frustration, stating that the disaster could have been avoided if the government, through the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), had acted on earlier warnings from local leaders.”
Just as we joined this Parliament in September 2021, I petitioned this House about the deteriorating condition of the landfill. A few days later, I visited the site with the State Minister for Kampala and KCCA’s Deputy Executive Director, and we witnessed water flowing uncontrollably,” Nkunyingi recalled, shedding tears as he recounted the tragedy.
Nkunyingi also alleged that the collapse of part of the landfill might have been caused by human activities, citing witness accounts of a blast preceding the disaster. “Witnesses reported seeing sand and smoke before the debris buried houses. They also mentioned that for months, Chinese workers had been installing pipes, claiming they were extracting gas. KCCA needs to explain what was happening at the site,” he added.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Kampala Minister Hajjat Minsa Kabanda denied that KCCA was responsible, blaming the Ministry of Finance for failing to allocate the necessary funds to address the landfill’s problems.
She also dismissed claims that KCCA workers were among the missing. “As KCCA, we have made efforts to resolve the landfill issue, including engaging investors who are willing to assist us. However, we have been hampered by financial constraints. Since 2018, our requests for funds have been classified as ‘unfunded priorities.’ The Budget Committee even recommended UGX 20 billion for KCCA, but nothing has been done,” Kabanda explained.
Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda criticized Kabanda for what he described as a presentation full of “lamentations” rather than solutions. He accused the Cabinet of failing to address the country’s problems, instead following directives from President Yoweri Museveni. “Why do you accept to serve in a government like this? You come to Parliament to cry, but what do you want us to do?” Ssemujju questioned.
Former Chairperson for the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Otala, suggested that the government should implement a system for sorting garbage at the source to prevent similar disasters in the future. He noted that many people rely on scavenging through landfill sites for their livelihood, extracting items like plastic bottles for sale.
Mbarara City Woman MP Rita Atukwasa warned that other cities could face similar tragedies if waste management issues are not addressed. “Mbarara City is in disarray. We have no proper waste management, and the Kenkombe dumping site is a ticking time bomb,” she cautioned.
Amuria District Woman MP Susan Amero also criticized KCCA for failing to relocate the landfill despite being allocated funds to purchase land in Ddundu, Mukono District, years ago.
“We gave money to KCCA, but the 134 acres in Ddundu remain idle. Now, we are dealing with the Kiteezi disaster,” she remarked.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa led the House in observing a moment of silence for the victims before Minister Aber outlined the government’s ongoing rescue efforts. She reported that 56 households affected by the disaster have been placed in temporary shelters by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Uganda Red Cross.
The government has deployed 15 excavators, security personnel, and emergency services to assist in the rescue operations. Additionally, the Prime Minister has provided UGX 200,000 to each affected household, while President Museveni has pledged UGX 5 million to each household that lost a loved one and UGX 1 million per injured person.
Minister Aber also mentioned that the government plans to expedite the opening of new landfills in Menvu, Nansana Municipality, and Busumamura in Kira Municipality, with a 200-meter buffer zone to prevent future disasters.
Meanwhile, 3rd Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Nakadama revealed that President Museveni has instituted a committee to investigate whether the tragedy was due to negligence.
