The Minister of State for Kampala Affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, has called for the resignation and prosecution of Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago over the Kiteezi landfill disaster, which claimed 34 lives.
In an interview with a local media house on October 21, 2024, Kyofatogabaye said that Lukwago should be the one facing criminal charges over the people who were killed when the Kiteezi landfill collapsed, instead of the former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director (ED) Dorothy Kisaka.
“The individual who should face prosecution for the Kiteezi disaster is the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago. Having been in KCCA for 15 years, he has only engaged in conflicts. If he had any respect left, he should have resigned,” Kyofatogabye said.
He revealed that in the financial year 2024/25, he had allocated money for constructing a wall fence around the landfill; however, Lukwago redirected the money, which left people neighboring the landfill in harm’s way.
“This financial year, I allocated 2 billion shillings in their (KCCA) budget for the construction of a wall fence, but they deemed it a waste of money and instead redirected those funds for their publicity,” the Minister revealed.
He also noted that he issued a warning about the Kiteezi disaster in November 2023, but Lukwago took no action, the inaction which has resulted in a garbage crisis that Kampala is grappling with today.
Kyofatogabye vowed to do everything in his power to remove Lukwago from office, referring to him as a tyrant and a murderer.
“If it means sacrificing myself to ensure that Lukwago leaves KCCA, I am willing to do so. This man is a tyranny and a murderer,” Kyofatogabye said.
On Friday, October 18, 2024, Kasangati Magistrate’s Court remanded three former KCCA top bosses to Luzira Prison on charges of manslaughter and negligent acts following the August 10 Kiteezi dumpsite garbage collapse that killed at least 34 people, injuring several others in Wakiso District. They include former KCCA executive director Dorothy Kisaka, her former deputy David Luyimbazi, and the ex-director of public health.
However, Lukwago, who is the political head of Kampala, has not been charged or taken responsibility for the negligence that resulted in the disaster, which has prompted Kofatogabye to call him out.