Kampala, (UG):- Three former top executives of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have been charged and sent to Luzira Prison over manslaughter and negligence which led to the August 10 Kiteezi dumpsite garbage collapse that killed at least 34 people, injuring several others in Wakiso District.
The trio, including former Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, Deputy ED David Luyimbazi and Director Public Health Dr Daniel Okello Friday appeared before Kasangati Magistrate’s Court Chief Magistrate Beatrice Khainza who read to them the thirty-four charges of manslaughter and twenty-one counts of causing harm by rash or negligent. They, however, denied the charges.
According to the charge sheet presented by State Prosecution led by Lilian Omara, it is alleged that the garbage collapse wouldn’t have happened had the accused not neglected their duties as KCCA bosses at the time masses of waste buried dozens of people and livestock at the dumpsite managed by KCCA.
In the alternative that the accused are not found guilty of manslaughter, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), prefers a charge of causing death by doing rush and negligent acts when Kisaka and her colleagues through a series of omissions continued to operate the dumpsite.
The omissions include operating the Kiteezi dumpsite without relevant permits, failing to take immediate action when warned against looming disaster, continuously permitting waste dumping at the site, failure to warn the community against a likely tragedy and failure to decommission the landfill prior to August 10.
The DPP contends that Kisaka, Luyimbazi and Okello committed the offences between July 2020 and August 10, 2024, in various places of Kampala and Lusanja in Kiteezi.
State Prosecution further told the court that investigations in the matter are still ongoing and sought an adjournment to allow the conclusion of investigations.
Still on Friday, a legal team led by former Buganda Kingdom premier Apollo Mukubya attempted to apply for bail, but the trial chief Magistrate declined- reasoning that it was late. “Defense should file a formal application for bail and serve the state on November 3. The accused are hereby remanded,” Magistrate Khainza said.
Ex-KCCA boss Kisaka assumed office on July 23, 2020, following an initial recommendation by President Museveni and subsequent approval by the Public Service Commission and was last month sacked and replaced by Rusa as acting KCCA ED.
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