HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The three former Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) are now candidates for Luzira Maximum Security Prison, following their summoning and interrogation by officials at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at Kibuli.
Dorothy Kisaka, the former Executive Director, David Luyimbazi, the ex-Deputy ED and Daniel Okello, the former Public Health Director summoned the trio over their alleged roles in the tragic collapse of the Kiteezi dumpsite on August 10. At least 35 bodies were recovered from the debris, while 11 other persons are still missing todate.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is investigating a case of alleged criminal negligence and abuse of office. This is to invite you to the CID headquarters in Kibuli on Wednesday, October 16th 2024, at 10,000am to provide relevant information in relation to the case under investigation,” reads the summons in part.
The grave repercussions of the case means that the trio are candidates for prison, depending on how well they articulate their cases.
Experts Habari Daily talked to said if the incriminating evidence was light, President Yoweri Museveni would just have ordered extensive investigations on the officials before sacking them.
“The IGG report which pointed to severe oversight and negligence on the part of the three KCCA officials, holding them partly responsible for the disaster, means the officials are facing cases triable in the high court,” said an expert on condition of anonymity.
Another official from State House called for a decisive response to the findings of the Inspector General of Government (IGG) concerning the disaster.
KCCA former dumping site at Kiteezi
“In light of these findings, the President has called upon the CID and other crime management agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter further, focusing on the angle of criminal negligence,” the official pointed out.
The grave nature of the disaster meant that Kisaka was forced to hand over her office to Frank Rusa, Luyimbazi handed over to Robert Nowere, while Okello handed over to Dr. Sarah Zalwango. This was in the presence of Hajati Minsa Kabanda, and her deputy, Kabuye Kyofatogabye.
Its alleged that KCCA spent sh4.1 billion in the last financial year 2023/24 to maintain the Kiteezi dumpsite. Of this, sh2.57 billion was spent on paying for the dumpsite equipment and a total of sh2.5m was used to pay for the excavator on a daily basis.
This money was reportedly embezzled by the officials through their accomplices.
The security agencies probe is expected to lead to formal charges leveled against the trio in court. The investigators’ evidence will be compiled and presented to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to come up with formal charges.
