Parliament was gripped with emotion on Tuesday as MP Nkunyingi Muwada (Kyadondo East) delivered a heart wrenching statement about the devastating garbage slide at the Kiteezi landfill, which has claimed 23 lives so far.
Muwada broke down in tears as he recounted events of the incident.
He revealed that by midnight on the day of the tragedy, cries for help could still be heard from victims buried under the debris. However, efforts to rescue them were reportedly hindered by security operatives who blocked locals from participating in the rescue efforts.
In a voice quaking with emotion, Muwada accused authorities of denying locals, who knew the locations of buried houses, the chance to search for their loved ones.
Muwada further alleged that some locals were being charged to retrieve bodies from mortuaries, while relatives of victims still trapped under the rubble had nowhere to sleep due to absence of temporally shelters.
“I met with two families of about 20 people from Mbale and Gulu who are there waiting for their relatives but have nowhere to sleep,” he lamented. “These are your people,” he cried, sharing the plight of families forced to sleep outside with children and babies .
The MP was handed a tissue after his voice began to shake and tears fell from his eyes.
The MP revealed more shocking details that not even half of the affected area had been covered in rescue efforts and accused the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) leadership of silence, despite their workers being trapped in the rubble.
He also raised concerns about Chinese contractors who were seen installing pipes in the garbage heap before the slide, allegedly for gas extraction.
“Unfortunately on Saturday, with no alert, no proof of KCCA Engineer it is reported by the witnesses that it was a blast that blew in the air with sand and smoke and then it came down covering people’s houses. That is the narrative from the residents,” Muwada stated, urging KCCA to explain the presence and activities of the Chinese contractors.
He criticized KCCA for the absence of site engineers who could have alerted locals of the impending danger.
“People had their land, it is actually the landfill that found the people, not that it is the people that settled in the landfill,” he argued, demanding that KCCA station standby engineers to manage risks and maintain the landfill.
Minister of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, expressed regret for the tragic loss of lives but defended KCCA, stating that their calls for funding since 2018 had been ignored. She mentioned that KCCA has been working with potential investors to address the landfill issue but faced challenges due to high tariffs.
“We are sorry for what took place, but we are going to work hand in hand,” Minister Kabanda said, emphasizing that the problem has been ongoing and requires Parliament and Cabinet action.
MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) criticized the government’s handling of the situation, stating that it reflects a larger issue of centralized decision-making.
“You all have contributed to creating this disaster of one man taking every decision,” he said, expressing frustration over the lack of effective solutions.” he said
He also objected to proposals to transfer the waste problem to Mukono, highlighting the negative impacts on local communities from unprocessed waste.
“Please find another way, maybe ask the President to use his chopper because we will not allow you to use our villages on your way to Mukono,” Ssemujju added.
