Entebbe, Wakiso – Speaker of Parliament Anita Among on Monday placed responsibility for the tragic Kiteezi landfill collapse on opposition politicians, saying they blocked critical decisions that could have prevented the disaster.
The remarks came as President Yoweri Museveni campaigned in Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District.
Speaking to supporters, Among argued that if the city had an NRM-affiliated mayor, key safety concerns would have been raised earlier. “If we had a mayor who is from the NRM, they would have raised this issue,” she said, stressing that political opposition stymied efforts to relocate vulnerable residents.
Among also referenced a report presented to Parliament seeking approval to transfer people living near the landfill, which she claimed was rejected by opposition members — a decision she said contributed to the loss of lives. “The blame for the loss of people in Kiteezi should be put on the opposition, not on the government,” she told the rally.
She urged that President Museveni be supported with “the right people to work with for the good of this country,” framing the issue as one of governance rather than environmental management.
Background: The Kiteezi Landfill Tragedy
The Kiteezi landfill, located in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso District, had served as Kampala’s main waste disposal site for decades and had long been considered overcapacity and hazardous.
On 10 August 2024, a massive collapse of accumulated waste at the site buried homes and claimed dozens of lives, with official figures putting the death toll in the 30s, and many more injured or displaced.
The catastrophe followed years of warnings about the instability of the landfill, which received thousands of tonnes of waste daily and had exceeded its operational capacity as far back as 2015.
Accountability and Legal Proceedings
In the aftermath, President Museveni dismissed top officials of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) — including former Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, Deputy Executive Director David Luyimbazi, and Director of Public Health Dr Daniel Okello — after a report from the Inspector General of Government (IGG) cited evidence of oversight failures and criminal negligence.
The trio was later charged with multiple counts of manslaughter and negligent acts linked to their management of the landfill, with court proceedings continuing into 2025.
Government Response and Ongoing Efforts
Following the tragedy, authorities began decommissioning the Kiteezi landfill, including stabilising waste slopes and implementing pollution control measures. Technical support and funding — including foreign assistance — have been mobilised to mitigate further risks and reshape waste management strategies for Kampala.
President Museveni’s campaign visit and Among’s remarks underscore the political dimensions now intertwined with the disaster’s legacy, as national leaders and local political actors debate blame, governance, and accountability ahead of upcoming elections.
