Summary:
- Minister Aber stated that all mortuary services and care are being handled by the government at no charge to the affected families.
KAMPALA: The Minister of State for Relief and Disaster Preparedness, Lillian Aber, has revealed that the government is currently dealing with two unclaimed bodies at the mortuary following the recent tragedy at the Kiteezi landfill.
Minister Aber stated that all mortuary services and care are being handled by the government at no charge to the affected families. She also noted that as part of the government’s response, the expedited opening of a new landfill in Nansana is underway.
“The government is fast-tracking the opening of new landfill sites in Menvu, Nansana, and Busumamura in Kira Municipality. A 200-meter buffer zone will be preserved to prevent a recurrence of such a disaster, as the current landfill already has a crack. Efforts to flatten the garbage hill to stabilize the landfill are ongoing,” Aber said.
Prime Minister Nabbanja has provided Shs200,000 to each of the 54 individuals currently sheltered around the Kiteezi landfill.
“The Prime Minister visited the site and provided financial assistance to those in emergency shelters. Additionally, the President has provided Shs5 million to each household that lost a loved one and Shs1 million to each injured person,” Aber added.
On Tuesday while chairing the plenary session, the Deputy Speaker of the 11th Parliament of Uganda, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, led Parliament in mourning the 21 residents who lost their lives in the disaster. He disclosed that the government had prepared a statement to update the nation on the tragedy.
“On Saturday, the country woke up to the shock of the tragedy at Kiteezi Landfill, which, according to the reports I have received, claimed 21 lives. The Prime Minister informed me that the government would be presenting a statement, and we have amended the order paper to accommodate this,” Tayebwa said.
Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Nkunyingi Muwada, commented on the situation, stating, “The landfill encroached upon people’s land, not the other way around. I visited the site with the State Minister for Kampala and the Deputy Executive Director of Kampala. Water flowing from the landfill had destroyed homes. We demanded that KCCA station engineers on-site to prevent flooding, maintain the landfill, and regularly alert nearby residents of any potential risks.”
Muwada added, “Unfortunately, on Saturday, without any warning, a blast occurred, sending sand and smoke into the air before it came crashing down on people’s homes. Residents claim they had seen Chinese contractors installing pipes in the garbage heap, allegedly extracting gas. KCCA needs to clarify what the Chinese contractors were doing.”
Minister of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, apologized for the tragic loss of lives at the landfill but denied allegations that KCCA had neglected the site.
She pointed out that KCCA’s requests for funding had been ignored by the government since 2018.
“As KCCA, we have been actively seeking solutions. We have engaged with investors willing to assist, but the proposed tariffs were high. We have been addressing this issue since 2018, but it is up to Parliament and the Cabinet to act. We are deeply sorry for what happened, and we are committed to working together moving forward,” Minister Kabanda said.
Bugabula North Member of Parliament, John Teira, criticized KCCA for rejecting potential investors who were willing to turn the Kiteezi site into an energy project.
“On three separate occasions, we presented investors who were ready to develop the Kiteezi site into an energy source at a cost lower than Bujagali’s contribution to the national grid. However, KCCA has continuously dismissed these opportunities,” Teira stated.
Amuru District Woman Member of Parliament, Susan Amero, questioned the government’s priorities, highlighting that money had been allocated to KCCA to purchase land in Ddundu, which has since remained idle.
“What are our priorities in this country? We allocated funds to KCCA to buy land in Ddundu, but nothing has been done with it for years. Meanwhile, the Kiteezi problem persists,” Amero remarked.
Mbarara City Woman Member of Parliament, Rita Atukwasa, pointed out that the Minister’s statement overlooked the dire condition of the road leading to Kiteezi.
“The state of the road is an emergency in itself. For over seven years, garbage trucks have been dumping waste, and now they are diverting to Kyanja. If KCCA cannot manage the basics of waste management, who will?” Atukwasa questioned.
Kira Municipality MP, Ssemujju Nganda, expressed frustration with the government’s handling of the situation. He criticized the government for centralizing waste management and suggested that the service should be decentralized.
“The tragedy at Kiteezi has claimed lives, but many more are suffering from diseases caused by the widespread dumping of waste. The World Bank recommended decommissioning the dumpsite over five years ago, yet nothing has been done,” Ssemujju said.
