Wakiso, (UG):- The Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kasangati in Wakiso District has released on bail three former top bosses at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) battling 57 charges relating to Kiteezi Landfill slide on August 10 this year that left over 34 people dead and several others injured and homeless.
The trio, who include the former executive director Dorothy Kisaka, her deputy Eng David Luyimbazi and Dr Daniel Okello, the former KCCA director for public health were Monday afternoon released on a cash bail of shillings five million each and Shs100 million, not in cash for each of their sureties.
Releasing them on bail, the chief magistrate Ms Beatrice Khainza said she was satisfied with the four sureties each of them presented before court and urged to ensure that the accused appear in court on November 26, 2024.
“I have looked at the documents presented by sureties and the prosecution has not opposed them. I have addressed my mind to the law specifically Article 23 of the Constitution, the bail guidelines and section 77 of the Magistrate Court Act. I accordingly release each of the accused person at sh5m cash and each of the sureties is bonded at sh100m, not cash,” Khainza ruled.
The three were also required to surrender their passports to the court which also prohibited them from travelling outside the country without the court’s permission.
The court further noted that investigations are still in the early stages, with no clear timeline for their conclusion, thus allowing the accused temporary release.
The Case and Charges
Kisaka, Luyimbazi, and Okello were remanded to Luzira Prison on October 18, 2024, after being charged with multiple counts of manslaughter and negligence in connection with the Kiteezi landfill collapse in August 2024.
Prosecution contends that as former KCCA top bosses, the trio acted negligently in their respective positions leading to the death of over 34 people following the Kiteezi landfill slide.
Regarding manslaughter, the prosecution alleges that between July 2020 and August 10, this year at various places within Kampala City and Kiteezi landfill, Lusanja village, Kiteezi ward, Kasangati town council in Wakiso district, the trio being persons bearing responsibility for the safe and proper management of Kiteezi landfill by a series of unlawful acts or omissions to wit continuing to operate Kiteezi landfill without the relevant permits and licences.
The prosecution argues that their actions directly contributed to the disaster, as they permitted the landfill to operate without proper permits and failed to evacuate residents from the danger zone.
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