In a bold move, the President has dismissed top Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials following a damning report by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) concerning the Kiteezi Landfill disaster. The officials, including Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, Deputy Executive Director Engineer Luyimbazi, and Director of Public Health Dr. Okello, were removed from their positions for what has been described as “significant evidence of criminal negligence.”
Citing the IGG’s findings, the President invoked his constitutional powers under Article 172 (1) (a) of the 1995 Constitution to remove the officials in the public interest. The IGG report detailed a series of serious oversights and failures on the part of the KCCA leaders, which led to the disastrous conditions at the Kiteezi Landfill.
In addition to dismissing the officials, the President has instructed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to open an inquiry into potential criminal negligence in relation to the incident. This investigation is expected to uncover more details about the failure of leadership and management at KCCA, which contributed to the disaster.
To ensure continuity in KCCA operations, the President has directed the Public Service Commission to begin the process of recruiting new officials for the now-vacant positions. A call for applications for the positions of Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director, and Director of Public Health will be issued, with the goal of filling the roles within three months.
In the meantime, the Minister for Kampala has been tasked with recommending suitable candidates for interim appointments to ensure that KCCA operations are not disrupted during this transition period.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to holding public officials accountable and ensuring that governance in key institutions meets the highest standards for the benefit of all citizens.
