Kiteezi updates: 18 confirmed dead as Museveni orders arrests

President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the arrest and prosecution of officials who allowed the ill-fated families to settle near the garbage dump site in Kiteezi, Wakiso district as the death toll hit 18.

The tough talking Museveni stated on his social media handle on X, stated that, “The first question that comes to mind is: “Who allowed People to live near such a potentially hazardous and dangerous heap?” Even without peeling off and burying People, the effluent alone (ejyurigyiriro) must be hazardous to health.”

He went on to direct the Deputy IGG and police boss to probe further how the people came to settle in such a dangerous place.

By press time, 18 bodies had been recovered, with more expected to be pulled out of the collapsed heap of garbage.

Below is the President’s full statement.

Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu, Greetings. This is to convey condolences to the families of the People who died yesterday as a consequence of part of the rubbish heap at Kiteezi (orubuungo), peeling off (kubeguka) and burying People who were living nearby.

The first question that comes to mind is: “Who allowed People to live near such a potentially hazardous and dangerous heap?” Even without peeling off and burying People, the effluent alone (ejyurigyiriro) must be hazardous to health.

The indigenous cow-dung and house-hold refuse heaps (emuungo) were dangerous enough, the fact that they were mainly organic (cow-dung-amasha-banana peelings- ebihatiro-house-hold refuse-empuunda), notwithstanding. 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 mound that is full of plastic, etc.?

When I talked to Dorothy Kisakka, she told me 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.

That, however, does not answer the question of why human settlement was allowed near the heap.

I have, accordingly, requested the Deputy IGG, Anne Muhairwe, representing the IGG, to expeditiously investigate the matter and furnish me with the report. 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.

However, once again, 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.

The UPDF Special Forces, have been directed to assist in the rescue. I have 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.
Signed: Yoweri K. Museveni President of Uganda