A Ugandan court has charged three former city officials with manslaughter and criminal negligence following a deadly landslide at a garbage dump in Kiteezi, northern Kampala, which killed 35 people in August. The collapse buried people, homes, and livestock under massive piles of waste.
According to Uganda Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke, the three officials, previously part of the Kampala Capital City Authority, face 57 counts related to the incident. They are set to remain in custody until November 4, when they can apply for bail.
The officials were dismissed in September by Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni. Lawyer Moses Sserwanga noted that this is an unprecedented case, as it is the first time government officials have been charged with manslaughter in connection with their official duties. Under Ugandan law, a manslaughter conviction could result in a life sentence.
The landslide occurred on August 10 after heavy rains caused widespread flooding across the country. In response, President Museveni announced compensation payments for the victims’ families, offering five million Ugandan shillings ($1,300) per fatality and one million shillings ($270) for each injured person.
Established in 1996, the 36-acre Kiteezi landfill receives almost all of Kampala’s garbage, amounting to approximately 1,500 tonnes daily. In January, Kampala’s mayor, Erias Lukwago, had already expressed concerns about the health risks posed to those living and working near the overflowing dump.