KAMPALA – Urban development experts have shed light on the inner workings of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in the wake of a recent investigation into the devastating garbage slide at the Kiteezi landfill. The tragedy, which occurred on August 10, resulted in the deaths of over 30 people and left several others injured.
In an exclusive interview over the weekend, a renowned urban development expert and a high-ranking member of the ruling NRM party emphasized that KCCA is a constrained entity in dire need of support to address its myriad problems. The experts stressed that adequate resource allocation is crucial in mitigating the number of avoidable deaths and ensuring the well-being of citizens.
IGG investigation
In an interview, an expert familiar with the proceedings criticized Dr. Ayen Daniel Okello, Director of Public Health at KCCA, for allegedly failing to take adequate action despite issuing a memo on July 2nd declaring the Kiteezi tragedy an emergency. “A memo alone is insufficient in an emergency situation, especially in a resource-constrained entity like KCCA,” the expert said. “You need to do more than that.”
The expert also suggested that Dr. Okello failed to follow up with KCCA Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka after she requested the cost of interventions. “It is clear that when the Executive Director received the memo, she went through it and asked the DPH to cost his interventions but he never got back to her. He needs to be held accountable for that,” the expert added.
Notably, between July 2nd and the Kiteezi tragedy, at least 10 committees met multiple times, including the City Technical Planning Committee Meeting, the Top Management Committee Meeting chaired by Kampala Minister Mrs. Minsa Kabanda, the Senior Management Committee Team Meeting chaired by Executive Director Mrs. Kisaka, and the Central Executive Committee chaired by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. Dr. Okello was a member of these committees but minutes show no record of him bringing the emergency to the attention of decision-makers.
“An emergency isn’t kept on someone’s desk on paper; it’s brought to the attention of decision-makers at every opportunity,” he said. This reporter understands that Dr. Okello’s failure to escalate the emergency despite being a member of multiple key decision-making committees has sparked concerns about his role in the tragedy.
It was not challenging for Dr. Okello to report the emergency to decision-makers during the over 10 meetings that took place between the time he wrote the memo and the date of the tragedy, the experts urge, maintaining that the memo was only circulated to put KCCA management in the spotlight when the disaster hit.
The Bigger picture
The officials acknowledge that KCCA is an acutely resource-constrained entity, with most critical areas remaining underfunded. Notwithstanding, they argue that the UGX 1 billion allocated to Kiteezi was insufficient to address the magnitude of the problem. In fact, one of the official estimates that KCCA requires up to UGX 30 billion to properly manage waste.
Moreover, the official suggests that the UGX 1 billion allocation might have even accelerated the accident. “It’s likely that the funds would have destabilized the dumpsite slopes, causing an even bigger accident than the one we witnessed,” the official said.
Experts argue that, despite KCCA being targeted, the disaster was inevitable due to the prolonged delay in decommissioning the Kiteezi landfill since 2015. The continued influx of garbage from KCCA and nearby municipalities, combined with land constraints, forced the landfill to expand vertically, introducing new risks such as sharp slopes and compromised stability.
The official criticized Parliament for failing to allocate funds for garbage management, noting that nearby municipalities lack their own dumpsites and budgets, relying on the already constrained Kiteezi. The sheer volume of solid waste generated (2,000 tons per day) overwhelms KCCA’s capacity to collect and dispose, with only 1,200 tons (60%) being safely collected, leaving 40% uncollected and disposed of indiscriminately, causing environmental pollution and health risks.
Annually, approximately 418,478 tons of municipal solid waste are deposited at Kiteezi, averaging 1,147 tons per day. With Kampala’s increasing urbanization rate, waste generation is expected to rise.
Of the total waste generated, 34% is collected by KCCA, while private operators handle the remaining 66%. Major sources of municipal solid waste include private households, transient populations, marketplaces, industries, businesses, and public administration. On average, each permanent resident generates 0.55kg of waste per day, while the transient population generates 0.18kg/person/day.
Meanwhile, KCCA has yet to receive funds to decommission the Kiteezi landfill, resulting in increased pressure on the dumpsite and rapid depletion of its capacity.
Experts argue that criticizing KCCA management is misguided, as officials cannot be expected to perform miracles with their limited resources. “No one in KCCA has a salary large enough to tackle the numerous problems plaguing the city,” one of the officials emphasized, highlighting the need for adequate funding and support to address the garbage crisis effectively.
Focus on the broader issue
Officials suggest that the IGG should focus on the broader issues contributing to avoidable deaths in Kampala, rather than just targeting KCCA authorities over Kiteezi. They point out that Boda Bodas, for instance, claim 10 lives daily due to lack of regulation, with over 300 fatalities per month according to City Mortuary statistics. “If the IGG is serious, they should start with this matter, as it’s more serious than Kiteezi in my opinion,” an expert noted. “Apart from Kiteezi, there are many other avoidable deaths, and the Kiteezi issue is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Furthermore, experts highlight a frustrating lack of staff and medicine in KCCA hospitals, leading to avoidable deaths. This is attributed to KCCA’s inadequate budget, which receives less than 20% of the required UGX 1.4 trillion per year, totaling only UGX 300 billion to run the city. Uganda’s deficit budget further compounds these issues, leaving critical priorities unfunded and creating a difficult working environment for government workers.
Officials urged that the issue of garbage has been politicized to put KCCA officials in the spotlight. This website, however, understands that several officials have been working to address the problem, including attempting to acquire new dumpsites in areas like Nkumba, Nansana, and Dundu. Despite these efforts, they have been met with resistance from local communities, leading to a situation where people are now disposing of garbage in drainage channels and wetlands. This has raised concerns about the potential outbreak of diseases like cholera, as the garbage contaminates water sources and creates an environment conducive to the spread of disease.
One official lamented, “Who will the IGG catch in this situation of disease outbreak? They need to fund KCCA. This city generates a lot of money for the government.” The official emphasized that the problems facing KCCA go beyond mere mismanagement and require adequate funding to address. The city’s garbage problem is just one symptom of a larger issue – inadequate resources and funding.
KCCA officials have emphasized that the city’s garbage problem is a complex issue that requires adequate funding and resources to address. In addition to garbage management, KCCA faces a range of other challenges, including inadequate street lighting, industrial pollution, and illegal structures in wetlands and drainage corridors. These issues have significant impacts on the health and well-being of city residents, and officials are calling for a more comprehensive approach to addressing them.
“Unplanned and illegal structures in wetlands and drainage corridors have caused flooding and economic losses, further exacerbating the city’s problems,” the expert said.”Even KCCA schools are not immune, with asbestos sheets on roofs posing a cancer risk to learners.”
The officials urged the IGG to take a broader view and investigate these issues, rather than just focusing on the garbage problem. “The IGG can help address the root causes of these challenges if she decides to take a broader approach and target people who can’t really do much,” one of the officials stressed.
If KCCA were to be prosecuted for criminal negligence, there are numerous instances that could be cited. However, experts believe that KCCA is not solely responsible, as they have many accomplices, including Parliament and their supervisors. The issue is systemic, and solving it requires more than just firing or prosecuting individuals leading KCCA.
As one official noted, “Simply work with them to identify the gaps because they know where they are.” KCCA is currently operating with a disturbing 50% staffing gap, making it impossible for the understaffed team to fulfill their duties as a fully functioning authority. “If there are lapses, it’s unfair to blame the staff, given their heavy workloads”.
The official emphasized that a holistic approach is needed, considering the broader context. “However, asking KCCA to perform without allocating resources is asking too much.” This highlights the need for adequate support and funding to address the systemic issues plaguing KCCA.
