President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Inspector General of Government to Investigate the Kitezi Landfill Incident that left scores dead and others injured.
“I have, accordingly, requested the Deputy IGG, Anne Muhairwe, representing the IGG, to expeditiously investigate the matter and furnish me with the report,” the president said.
He added, “In the meantime, I have directed the Prime Minister to co-ordinate the removal of all the house-holds in the danger zone, in addition to ensuring the recovery, if possible of the People still buried in the rubbish.”
The Kitezi landfill this week curved in burying people and property. According to the Uganda RedCross, the death toll by Sunday 11, stood at 20.
In his statement Museveni questioned, “Who allowed People to live near such a potentially hazardous and dangerous heap?” He noted that even without peeling off and burying People, the effluent alone (ejyurigyiriro) must be hazardous to health.
He noted that no settlement would be allowed below the Rubuungo (the rubbish mound) on account of the effluent (ejyurigyiriro). “Even without kubeguka (breaking off) of part of the mound to bury People, the effluent alone would be unpleasant and hazardous. How much more dangerous is the Kiteezi mount that is full of plastic, etc.?”
Museveni revealed that when he talked to Dorothy Kisakka, (ED KCCA), she told him “the story of how they wanted to move to Dundu but the Dundu People did not want to neighbour with the rubbish and instead, they have been working on positively using the rubbish, which is actually good, to generate electricity, make manure, recycle the plastics, etc”
However, Museveni said the explanation is not enough to why human settlement was allowed near the heap.
“This should educate Ugandans about the dangerous areas such as wetlands, lake-shores or the river banks, in the forests where they get in touch with monkeys and bring monkey-pox and Ebola to us, etc., etc.
All should know that People- technical or political who encourage them to do so are, actually, their enemies. How many times have we lost People in such mountain land slides, floods, etc.? Let us learn and keep away from danger,” he said.
He revealed that the UPDF Special Forces, have been directed to assist in the rescue.
Museveni also directed the State House Comptroller to financially assist the families of those who died with Sh.5million per person who died and Sh.1 million per person who was injured.
“This is not part of the legal compensation that may come from the Government if any Government Agency is found to be responsible. May Almighty God rest the souls of our departed People in eternal Peace and heal the injured,” he explained.
