By Amos Ssemuwemba
Jubilant scenes unfolded across Kampala’s streets today as city cleaners, many of them women, celebrated the sacking of top Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials. Following months of unpaid wages and frustrations, the cleaners, who had tirelessly maintained the city’s streets, finally saw the departure of Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, her deputy David Luyimbazi, and the Director of Public Health, Daniel Okello, as a moment of vindication.
The dismissal, ordered by President Yoweri Museveni, came after an Inspectorate of Government (IGG) report pointed to gross negligence on the part of the KCCA leaders. The President deemed the action necessary, emphasizing that it was in the public interest, given the mounting evidence of their failure to address the needs of both the city and its workers.
“For too long, we’ve been working under impossible conditions, ignored while the city deteriorated,” shared one street cleaner. “But today, we feel heard. Our plight has finally been recognized.”
The street cleaners, who had gone unpaid for months, took to the streets not just to celebrate, but to express their relief that the concerns they had long raised were being taken seriously. The fired officials had been accused of failing to address the wage delays and other pressing issues facing Kampala, allowing a backlog of problems to persist.
In addition to their dismissal, the President has ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to probe the ousted officials for potential criminal negligence. “The President has called upon CID and other crime management agencies to thoroughly investigate these individuals, particularly in relation to criminal negligence linked to the distressing conditions experienced in the city,” stated the official communication.
This decisive action has been met with widespread support among those who have long felt marginalized by KCCA’s leadership. For the street cleaners, the celebrations on the streets were not only about the removal of negligent officials but also a hopeful signal that their voices and challenges are finally receiving the attention they deserve.
SML News UG continues to closely follow this developing story and will provide updates as more details come to light
