By Amos Ssemuwemba
Excavators from Uganda Police, Uganda National Roads Authority and other rescue teams, have today morning continued with the search of the bodies of the deceased. These are estimated to be in the depth of over 25 feet under the pile of rubbish.
The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, this evening has led Parliament in mourning the death of residents who lost their lives, following the catastrophic falling of garbage at Kiteezi landfill and he revealed that Government had prepared a statement to update the nation on the tragedy.
“On Saturday, the country woke up to the shock of the tragedy that befell residents around Kiteezi Landfill that has so far according to the reports I have received, claimed 21 people. In the morning, the Prime Minister called me that Government will be bringing a Statement so we will amend the order paper to allow so that immediately after my communication, that statement can be presented,” said Tayebwa.
During the Parliament seating, Lillian Aber, Minister of State for Relief and Disaster Preparedness has revealed that Prime Minister Nabbanja provide Shs200,000 to each of the 54 individuals currently in emergency shelters around the Kiteezi landfill.
“The Prime Minister visited the site and provided Shs200,000 to each individual, 54 beneficiaries who are currently in emergency shelter. The President provided Shs5M to each household that lost a person and Shs1M per injured person,” Aber said
The area Member of Parliament, Muwada Nkunyingi says “People had their land, it is actually the land fill that found the people, not that it is the people that settled in the landfill. I went to the landfill with the State Minister for Kampala and the Deputy Executive Director for Kampala, water flowing from the landfill had taken away people’s houses. Part of our demands was for KCCA to station standby engineers on site so that they could avert the flooding, maintain the landfill and regularly alert and caution the neighbours in the event of any risk.” Nkunyingi stated.
“Unfortunately on Saturday, with no alert, no proof of KCCA Engineer it is reported by the witnesses that it was a blast that blew in the air with sand and smoke and then it came down covering people’s houses. That is the narrative from the residents. They even continue to allege that for months, they saw Chinese contractors installing pipes in the heap of the garbage and when the locals questioned them, these Chines told them that they were extracting gas. KCCA should come out and tell us, what were the Chinese doing?”- Nkunyingi asked.
Minister of Kampala Capital City & Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, has apologized for the tragic loss of 21 people at Kiteezi landfill, but she denied allegations that KCCA idly looked on at the dumping site filled up, saying the Authority’s demands for funding have been ignored by Government since 2018.
“As KCCA, we have done a lot. We have talked to the investors who are willing to assist us. If we can’t decommission this land, we have looked for investors and right now, we have two investors who are willing to work with us but just the tariffs were a bit high. Otherwise, we haven’t just been seated, we have been working on this issue, we knew this issue since 2018, and it has been ongoing and it is Parliament and Cabinet to start working on that issue, but otherwise, we are sorry for what took place but we are going to work hand in hand.” Kabanda stated
In response to Minister Kabanda, John Tetra Mp Bugabula North says, “ On three separate occasions, we have presented potential investors who were willing to turn the Kiteezi site into energy, which was going to less than half of what Bujagali is selling to the national grid. We were directed to do feasibility studies and in every presentation, KCCA has deliberately thrown away these people. I am a legal service provider in this country and we have presented these people to KCCA formally and they have continuously rejected anybody who comes to develop Kiteezi,” Teira stated.
“A colleague has said that Parliament hasn’t given this issue much attention. We gave money to KCCA to purchase Ddundu land. But I want to ask, what are our priorities in this country? Do we need to buy land before we conduct a feasibility study to establish that what we intend to establish can stand the test of time? Because now, the 134 acres of land in Ddundu is idle for all those years I have been in this House. And now, we have the Kiteezi problem which they had promised at the time they pushed the Committee to give the money?” Susan Amero MP Amuru DWR emphasized
As the proceedings continued, Mbarara City Women Representative, Rita Atukwasa, stated “One of the things that have missed in the Minister’s statement is the nature of emergency of the state of the road to Kiteezi, I am even wondering, how did they reach there to rescue the people? The road is in such a terrible state that it is an emergency itself. For over 7years, those garbage trucks pas throwing garbage and now, they are diverting to Kyanja.”
“I think we need to be true to ourselves, KCCA has had a project, where they are putting little bins alongside the road. It is a shame, how money can be wasted. The basics of waste management if they can’t come from KCCA, you wonder who will follow? Nobody. You should set a learning example, put bins that separate garbage in different categories. But if you can’t do that, which other Ugandan will do it in their home? Mbarara City we are in disarray, the Kenkombe dumping site, the people have chased us, including where we burry people.” She added.
Honorable member from Kira Municipality, Ssemujju Nganda, also attacked the Minister of Kampala saying; “I sympathize with colleagues who accept to be Ministers. The Minister for Kampala, when I asked her to respond, she was as crying as any other Member of Parliament. We did this, we did this. I don’t know why you accept to be Ministers in a Government like this. And I am saying this deliberate because I have seen the Vice President and Prime Minister after their appointment going to Gulu to thank Gen. Saleh. You all have contributed to creating this disaster of one man taking every decision, that is why you are all here crying. You come to Parliament to cry, so what do you want us to do?” Ssemujju asked.
“Kiteezi was one of the villages I represented in the 9th Parliament. A solution can’t be transferring that particular problem to Mukono, people who live in Kiteezi, because the waste you put there isn’t processed, it has attracted all the dogs in the world, all the flies. The trucks that carry garbage from Kampala, maybe they are supposed to be carrying firewood, they go dropping garbage everywhere. By the time these trucks reach Kiteezi, they have dropped about 10% along the way. Please find another way, maybe ask the President to use his chopper because we will not allow you to use our villages on your way to Mukono.” Ssemujju added.
“The World Bank that sponsored that dumpsite, recommended in a report written more than 5years ago, decommission. The Minister said, we have also been saying the same thing. I don’t think it makes sense to transport garbage from Kyengera, Entebbe, everywhere to move to one direction. We need to decentralize this service. Otherwise, this disaster has killed people, but you don’t know how many people are diseased as a result of dropping almost at every point from Kampala to Kiteezi.” Ssemujju encouraged
He concluded by saying; “I have visited National Water and Sewerage Corporation, they process and turn fecal waste into fertilizer. I have visited two of their sites, what stops you from acquiring equipment to process this garbage that you go and deposit there? This tragedy that happened, even when I was the MP before it was subdivided, I came here and cried.” Ssemujju submitted.
In an exclusive interview, with the Uganda Red Cross Society area Manager, Mr. Praise Ainomugisha, Thanked those that are working with them to ensure that they deliver all the support needed by the survivors. “ I want to take this opportunity to thank all those that are supporting us in one way or another to ensure that we support these survivors while passing through this trying moment.” He said
He adds “Currently we’re sheltering 67 survivors in our tents but we expect the numbers to continue to increase because we think they haven’t known that we created this shelter.”
“We’re working hand in hand with the government through the Office of the Prime minister, the Kampala Capital City Authority(KCCA) and stakeholders to see that we ensure coordinated support towards the survivors.” MR. Ainomugisha continued.
“KCCA is expected to establish a medical camp which will help us to handle some health issues to the survivors.” He adds.
“We don’t have any more hopes of finding any more people alive because the heat inside the garbage piles can not keep them alive.” He emphasized.
President Museveni previously cautioned Ugandans about the dangers of living in hazardous areas, such as wetlands, lake shores, river banks and forests among others. “The risk of disasters like landslides, floods, and disease out breaks is heightened in these areas,”
He sounded a strong warning against the technical people or politicians who encourage people to settle in such areas.
This followed the August 10, 2024, incident where a heap of rubbish at Kiteezi garbage collection site, peeled off burying dozens of people who were living in the vicinity. The Kiteezi landfill, located 10 kilometers north of Kampala’s city center, has been a major waste disposal site for the capital since it’s establishments in 1996.
According to Uganda Red Cross Society, the number of death tolls has risen to 25.
“The cumulative toll now rises to 25 after more bodies were retrieved from the scene.” Irene Nakasita, Public Relations officer (PRO),Uganda Red Cross Society, noted.
“We’re in talks with the people concerned at Kyengera and Nkumba dumping site to come up with an interim solution for the garbage dumping.” Erias Lukwago, Lord Mayor Kampala, said.
Lukwago also welcomed the president’s directive to the IGG’s (Inspector General of Government), to conduct investigations into KCCA officials over the tragedy.
“I am happy that Mr Museveni tasked the Inspector General of Government (IGG) to carry out investigations against top officials of KCCA. I am willing to provide all the necessary information needed about them.” He said.
Rescue teams including UPF, UPDF, Red Cross, locals and other emergency services, are working tirelessly to locate bodies and assist survivors.
