Ssenyonyi to drag govt to court over Kiteezi landfill deaths

Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi has threatened to take government and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to court if the families of those who lost their lives in the Kiteezi Landfill tragedy are not promptly compensated.

During a press briefing at Parliament, Ssenyonyi criticised the authorities for their negligence, which led to the deaths at the landfill.

"We are demanding that the Government immediately compensates these families," Ssenyonyi stated.

"If this doesn’t happen soon, we will support these families in taking legal action against the Government. This is a clear case of negligence."

Ssenyonyi also called on Government to develop a comprehensive waste management plan to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"Our hope is that the Government acts before legal action is necessary. These families are living in tents, without food, because of KCCA and the Government’s negligence,"he said.

Ssenyonyi criticised Government's initial response, which included a payment of Shs5 million to bereaved families and Shs1 million to those injured.

"Shs5 million isn’t enough to cover burial expenses. This is not compensation at all," he said.

The opposition leader also demanded a detailed government plan to address waste management issues.

"People are stuck with garbage in their homes and the city. That is another potential disaster," he warned.

Ssenyonyi described the Kiteezi tragedy, where 34 people died, as "unfortunate," and expressed frustration over the lack of accountability. "It is sad that in this day and age, people can die under garbage heaps," he said.

He urged ongoing recovery efforts to continue until all missing persons are accounted for.

"About 28 people are still missing," Ssenyonyi emphasized.