Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Dorothy Kisaka, David Luyimbazi, and Daniel Okello are expected to spend Monday night in police custody as they face questioning related to the catastrophic Kiteezi landfill collapse.
The stench from the site now follows them to the interrogation rooms at the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Kibuli.
This investigation, launched on the orders of President Museveni, comes after the trio’s dismissal from their positions at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
They are accused of gross negligence that contributed to the tragic August 11 collapse of garbage at the Kiteezi landfill, which claimed 32 lives and left many others injured when massive piles of waste buried homes in nearby villages, including Lusanja and Kitetika.
President Museveni’s directive called for a thorough probe into the incident, focusing on potential criminal negligence. In the aftermath of the disaster, the three officials have been criticized, particularly Kisaka, who allegedly ignored warnings about the landfill’s safety hazards to residents living nearby.
The officials now join the ranks of high-profile figures investigated at Kibuli for corruption and negligence, many of whom have been charged and detained. Other public officials, such as MPs Cissy Namujju and Yusuf Mutembuli, have faced similar investigations and arrests in recent months.
The investigation aims to hold those accountable for the mismanagement of the landfill and prevent future tragedies. Dorothy Kisaka, a lawyer and corporate executive, had taken over the role of KCCA executive director in June 2020, succeeding Jennifer Musisi, who left amid her own controversy.
The probe is expected to lead to formal charges in court, with investigators compiling evidence to be presented to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
