The sacking of three top officials at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has sparked a heated debate among Members of Parliament, with mixed reactions regarding accountability for the Kiteezi Landfill disaster that claimed 35 lives.
The officials—Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, David Luyimbazi, and Daniel Okello—were dismissed following a landslide that exposed significant mismanagement at the landfill.
While some MPs welcomed the move, others expressed frustration over the absence of accountability for the two Ministers of Kampala, Minsa Kabanda and Kabuye Kyofatogabye.
Timothy Batuwa, the MP for Jinja South-West, criticised the government for its failure to implement effective waste management policies.
“We blame the Cabinet Ministers. The Constitution stipulates clearly that Cabinet will formulate policies," Dr Batuwa said
"When there was a landslide in Kiteezi, we discovered there was no policy on waste management in KCCA. What was the Minister doing? Now we have people meeting every Monday, taking tea, and are expected to make policies. So, the Minister betrayed the nation."
Other lawmakers echoed his sentiments, questioning the overall leadership during the crisis.
Muwadda Nkunyingi, the MP for Kyadondo East, said the people who died in Kiteezi did so in avoidable circumstances.
"There has been too much chaos and negligence at KCCA. When they knew there was a risk of tragedy, they should have stopped the landfill’s usage instead of watching what would happen,” he said.
Nkunyingi further called for harsher repercussions, stating, “It isn’t enough that Kisaka, David Luyimbazi, and the Director of Health have been sacked; we want to see them punished. We also want the government to compensate the victims and issue an apology to the nation.”
The government has yet to respond to calls for compensation and further accountability. A spokesperson defended the decision to dismiss the officials, citing a commitment to prevent such incidents in the future.
As the investigation continues and search operations remain active for the 11 individuals still unaccounted for, the focus remains on the need for systemic reforms in waste management and governance in Kampala.
The tragedy has not only highlighted failures in policy implementation but also ignited a demand for greater transparency and responsibility from those in power.
The unfolding situation has left many citizens questioning the effectiveness of their leadership and whether sufficient measures will be taken to ensure safety and accountability in the future.
As this story develops, the calls for justice and reform resonate strongly within the community.