Court erupts into excitement as ex-KCCA bosses get bail
L-R: Former KCCA executive director, Dorothy Kisaka; ex-deputy executive director David Luyimbazi, and ex-director public health Daniel Okello at Kasangati Magistrate's Court on November 4, 2024. PHOTO/ ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- Their sureties have each been bonded Shs100m, not cash and asked to deposit their passports with the Chief Magistrate's Court in Kasangati.
There was celebration at Kasangati Chief Magistrate’s Court on Monday after former Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) executive director Dorothy Kisaka, ex-deputy executive director David Luyimbazi and ex-director Public Health Daniel Okello were released on bail having spent two week on remand on charges of manslaughter and negligent act following the August 10 Kiteezi dumpsite collapse that killed 35 people.
A generic report from the government-run city mortuary had indicated that all the victims of the landfill collapse in Wakiso District were suffocated by the garbage that covered them.
Several other people were hospitalized with injuries following the 10 tragedy.
Kisaka, Luyimbazi and Okello were on Monday granted ShsShs5 million cash bail each while their sureties were bonded bonded at Shs100 million non-cash.
The court presided over by the Chief Magistrate, Beatrice Kainza also ordered the three to surrender their passports and obtain permission from court whenever they intend to leave the country.
“I am satisfied with the applicants' applications, they have fixed places of abode, and their sureties are substantial. They should deposit their original passports with court, not allowed to move out of the country without the leave of court and case is still in early stages. Given that there is no clear time frame when the investigations will be completed, bail is granted if they fulfill all the condition,” Ms Kainza before adjourning the case to November 26 for mention.
On hearing the court’s bail ruling, a group of people donned in white T-shirts with Kisaka’s portrait and writings “Justice for Maama Kisaka” burst into celebrations chanting songs in praise of Kisaka.
The state alleges that Kisaka , Luyimbazi and Okello caused harm by rush or negligent act on 21 people who were injured as a result of the collapse of the landfill which they contend would not have happened, had the accused not neglected their duties as Executive Director KCCA, Deputy ED and Director Public Health respectively.
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In the alternative that the accused are not found guilty of manslaughter, the DPP has preferred a charge of causing death by doing rush and a neglect acts when Kisaka and her co-accused through a series of omissions including; continuing to operate Kiteezi landfill site without relevant permits , failing to take immediate action when warned against a looming disaster to life and property, continuing to permit the dumping of waste at Kiteezi dumping site and failure to warn the neighbouring persons/ community against a looming disaster and failure to decommission Kitenzi landfill thus causing the death of 35 people .
The said charges stem from the respective responsibilities held by the three as per their former roles as Executive Director , Deputy Executive Director and Director Public health.
The DPP contends that Kisaka, Luyimbazi and Okello committed the offences between July 2020 and August 10th 2024 in various places of Kampala and Lusanja in Kiteezi.
Ms Kisaka assumed office on July 23, 2020 following an initial recommendation by President Museveni and subsequent approval by the Public Service Commission.
As per the KCCA Act 2011, her responsibilities, among other roles, included overseeing the delivery of quality services within Kampala City, promoting order and trade in the city, managing public funds of the Authority and providing technical advisory to the Authority.
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