By Teddy Namayanja
KCCA executive including the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Central Members of the Technical Executive have called upon government to provide long term interventions to address the Kiteezi Land Fill Disaster which happened on Saturday August 10, 2024.
They made the call earlier yesterday at City Hall in Kampala, where they addressed Journalists on their proposals to Cabinet through the Office of the Prime Minister to address the raising concerns following the Saturday tragedy.
“Katabi is not enough. It’s already overwhelmed, we need another alternative site so that we have two sites which should be procured as soon as possible. We need the state of art recycling plant not in Ddundu. Actually Ddundu is out of the picture.
The studies have indicated it’s not tenable, it’s not sustainable, it’s very far. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said.
They have also called for adequate compensation of the victims and allocation of funds to address infrastructure challenges.
“Adequately compensate the victims of Kiteezi Land Fill for loss of lives, property and any other injuries or damages occasioned to the tragedy”. Lukwago emphasized.
They suggested that part of the 130 acre Land at Dundu be cut off for the purpose of re-settling the affected families.
“Government should immediately provide funds to the construction of housing units on that Land”. Lukwago noted.
KCCA is also calling for re-allocation of funds from non critical areas or the creation of a supplementary budget to fund waste management and infrastructural development to prevent another disaster which experts have warned against.
“Solid waste management and Kiteezi Land Fill closure requires UGX 70bn. The whole of it is not available and we’re saying we now have to re-allocate money from other useless sectors and non critical sectors to finance these programs”. Lukwago explained.
The officials presented these proposals to the Office of the prime Minister this afternoon with hope that, they will be tabled and considered in the cabinet meeting due to take place on Monday August 19, 2024.
KCCA leaders are also demanding the immediate resignation of the Authority’s Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, citing negligence.
The Executive Director should be withdrawn from her position because of her negligence at work. It’s on record the Director of Public Health Dr. Okello made an alarm to the E.D about the disaster before it happened but it’s unfortunate she never took any step in that regard”. Lord councilor James Mubiru, said.
Meanwhile, the Omusinga of Rwenzululu Charles Bwenzuru Mumbere has come to the aid of 14 year old Gilbert Mumbere who survived Saturday’s collapse of the garbage site at Kiteezi Land Fill.
Mumbere who had come to the city to work as a house help was left homeless after the home where he lived was buried under garbage.