Kiteezi ‘Ghosts Haunt’ Dorothy Kisaka as She’s Thrown into Prison

Dorothy Kisaka. Photo by Vision Group

Sacked Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka, her former Deputy David Luyimbazi and former Director of Public Health Dr Daniel Okello will spend the next two weeks in Luzira Prison after being charged with manslaughter and negligence. It now looks like Kiteezi ghosts have begun haunting Dorothy Kisaka, Luyimbazi and Dr Okello.

Kisaka, Luyimbazi and Okello appeared before Kasangati Chief Magistrate’s Court in Wakiso District on October 18, 2024 following their arrest, detention, quizzing and home searches starting in the midweek.

Their troubles stem from the Kiteezi landfill collapse that claimed the lives of over 30 people, and resulted in several injuries.

The trio were charged with 34 counts of manslaughter and 21 counts of causing harm by rash or negligent acts, all of which they needed.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) preferred charges of manslaughter and negligence against Kisaka, Luyimbazi and Dr Okello, reasoning that if the trio had executed their duties and not neglected them as the state believes they did, the Kiteezi dumpsite collapse would never have happened.

On the charges of negligence, prosecution has reasoned that if the trio had not made omissions – running the Kiteezi dumpsite without relevant permits, failure to swiftly act despite warnings of imminent disaster, failure to stop dumping, lack of warnings to the Kiteezi community on looming disaster and and failure to decommission Kiteezi dumpsite – the tragedy that befell Kiteezi would not have happened.

Chief Magistrate Beatrice Khainza remanded Kisaka, Luyimbazi and Okello until November 04, 2024, after lead prosecutor Lilian Omara said that the probe into the matter was yet to get concluded.

A few months since the Kiteezi tragedy shocked the nation, it seems that the ghosts of Kiteezi have begun haunting Dorothy Kisaka and her fellow sacked officials. It should be remembered that President Museveni has appointed Frank Rusa as acting KCCA ED and tasked the Public Service Commission to hire Dorothy Kisaka’s successor in three months.

Read about new acting KCCA ED Frank Rusa and more Here and There.

(For comments on this report, story tips or sponsored content, send us a Whatsapp message on +256 705 690 819 or E-mail us on pearltimesug@gmail.com).

Please Follow our Whatsapp Channel for More Stories HERE

Samuel Kamugisha

Samuel Kamugisha is a Ugandan journalist, editor, language instructor, poet, fiction and non-fiction writer. A Makerere University graduate of Journalism and Communication with a decade-long experience in news reporting, writing and editing, Kamugisha is Editor at The Pearl Times. Most of his previous work was published by The Observer. When he is not doing journalism work -- which is rare -- Kamugisha will be reading or writing a short story or a poem, or caught up in the writer's block.