Opposition Declares Intent to Sue Government Over the Kiteezi Incident
The opposition in parliament has declared their intention to sue the government and the Kampala Capital City Authority on behalf of the residents of Kiteezi.
The opposition says these residents have suffered the loss of loved ones and property due to the landfill incident.
Opposition leader Joel Ssenyonyi, addressed the media at parliament, emphasizing that the Kiteezi incident was a clear case of gross negligence.
He stated that KCCA officials were well aware of the risks associated with garbage accumulation that could lead to a disaster. Despite warnings, no action was taken to prevent the incident.
The devastating tragedy struck on August 10, when the landfill suffered a structural failure in waste mass and covered up to 44 homes. In the aftermath, 35 bodies were retrieved from the waste blocks and 18 persons were rescued with injuries. 28 persons remain unaccounted for.
Ssenyonyi has demanded swift action from the government to restore the livelihoods of those affected and provide compensation.
“it’s important that when a thing like this happens, especially with negligence, people have got to be compensated. What we saw government do was to give 5 million shillings to the bereaved families and then 1 million to those who were injured. But you see that 5 million might not even be enough for them to transport their dead and then carry out the burial process.” Ssenyonyi argued.
Ssenyonyi highlighted the lack of accountability for the Kiteezi disaster and urged the government to address the nation with a clear plan to deal with the ongoing garbage problem that is affecting many households.
“There were warnings which were not heeded to and people have died because KCCA and government for that matter were negligent. So we are demanding that these families, those that lost their loved ones, those that were injured, those that have lost property to be compensated with immediacy and adequately.” He explained.
