Africa-Press – Uganda. Residents affected by the Kiteezi landfill disaster have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as unfair and inadequate compensation from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), saying they lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods with little to no meaningful support.
Speaking at the site near the remnants of their homes, the victims, led by their representative Pastor Joshua Aliho, accused government officials of neglect, poor consultation, and lack of transparency in handling the compensation process.
“We are not satisfied with how the government handled our issues. Many of us were never consulted, and some have not received a single shilling,” Pr Aliho said.
Some of the most emotional accounts came from victims like Frank Kayonga Muluri, who lost his wife and was left to care for nine children.
“My wife died and I was left with nine children. I could not even afford to bury her properly. My business was destroyed, and up to now I have received nothing from the government. I survived by begging,” he said.
Another resident, John Ssengoba, accused KCCA of corruption, arguing that the money disbursed to some victims did not reflect the scale of their losses.
“They gave us very little money which cannot match what we lost. Our tenants’ houses were destroyed, our animals died, our relatives perished, and other property was lost. This money cannot cover any of that,” he said.
Victims further alleged that KCCA officials abandoned them after the disaster, reportedly citing lack of government funds to fully compensate families.
“Instead of proper compensation, they gave us token amounts. Some leaders just disappeared and left us suffering,” one resident said.
Even the small amounts allocated remain largely inaccessible, according to the residents.
“The money is too little to help us, and most of us have not even touched it. It is still stuck on the accounts,” Pr Aliho added.
The affected families are now appealing directly to President Yoweri Museveni, urging his intervention to ensure they receive justice and fair compensation.
“We are asking the President to come in and help us. We want justice and a dignified life after everything we lost,” the residents said.
The Kiteezi landfill disaster remains one of the most devastating incidents for the local communities, with reports indicating that most victims received only Shs15 million, while the highest amount given was Shs30 million, leaving many struggling to rebuild their lives.
