The former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) top officials have been granted bail by the Kasangati Chief Magistrate’s Court after spending two weeks in Luzira prison facing charges of manslaughter and negligence.
Dorothy Kisaka, the former KCCA Executive Director; Engineer David Luyimbazi, the deputy Executive Director; and Dr. Daniel Okello, the former Director of Public Health and Environment, were charged in connection with the Kiteezi landfill tragedy, which resulted in the death of over 35 people, property destruction, and displacement on August 10, 2024.
The trio were granted bail of UGX 5 million cash each and UGX 100 million non-cash for each surety on Monday, October 4, 2024, after reappearing before the Chief Magistrate in Kasangati and the defense filing a formal bail application.
According to the prosecution and bail conditions, the trio were barred from flying out of the country before the case is closed, cautioned against interfering with the ongoing investigations and witnesses, among others. The court, therefore, warned that any violation of the said conditions could result in revoking their bail.
The embattled former officials were arraigned before the Kasangati Magistrate’s Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Beatrice Kainza on Friday, October 18, 2024. The prosecutor read them the charges, including manslaughter and negligence.
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The trio and others still at large were charged with manslaughter and 57 other counts, among them causing death by rush or negligent act. These stem from their alleged negligence in managing the Kiteezi landfill that resulted in a disaster; however, they pleaded not guilty.
According to the charge sheet, Kisaka, Luyimbazi, Okello, and others still at large were accused of manslaughter under Section 171 of the Penal Code Act.
The court document outlined that between July 2020 and August 2024, the officials neglected their duties related to the Kiteezi landfill’s management, leading to the deadly collapse on August 10, 2024.
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The officials in question who were detained on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, following summons to appear at the CID headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala, and on Thursday, October 17, 2024, they were escorted in a police drone from Kira police station, where they spent the night in custody to their homes, under heavy deployment for home search.
The granting of bail to the officials in question caused debate among netizens who questioned why the bail was granted yet they caused death to over 35 people. Others said that the case has been closed.
“After causing the deaths of over 40 people, you still grant them bail, yet innocent people are rooting inside the cells of prison,” Ramadhan Edrisa tweeted.
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The embattled bosses were sacked by President Museveni after the Inspector General of Government’s (IGG) report on the landfill disaster was released, outlining the severe oversight and negligence exhibited by the officials.
