Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has raised concerns over the process followed in awarding a contract to the Jaspong Group of Companies to manage the Kiteezi dumpsite. According to Lukwago, the central government has bypassed proper legal procedures, including the necessary public procurement processes. This has sparked debate on the transparency and fairness of the agreement.
Speaking to reporters at City Hall on Monday, Lukwago called on interim Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director, Frank Rusa, to reject signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ghanaian firm. Lukwago emphasized that this should not proceed without first adhering to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act, which outlines strict guidelines for such contracts.
Lukwago claimed that the Jaspong Group was awarded the bid without undergoing an open bidding process. He argued that this method would have allowed other competent companies to show interest, ensuring that the best possible partner is chosen. According to him, the Attorney General’s office has already prepared the MoU, and Rusa is being pressured to sign it without a thorough review of the deal.
Lukwago also pointed out that the entire process has been handled by the central government, leaving out key stakeholders such as the City Executive Committee, the Authority Council, and division urban councils, which are all required by law to be involved in such decisions.
The PPDA Act of 2003 mandates that all government procurement must be transparent, accountable, and fair. The law also insists that the process should promote competition and ensure value for money. Lukwago emphasized that these principles are being ignored in the current dealings regarding Kiteezi.
In another development, Lukwago referred to a notice issued by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) on October 4, 2024, about the planned 20 MW Ddundu waste-to-energy project. This project would convert waste from the dumpsite into energy, a step that adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing Kiteezi negotiations.
Lukwago also addressed the tragic incident in August when a garbage collapse at the Kiteezi dumpsite killed 35 people and destroyed several homes. He criticized the government’s compensation response, arguing that the Shs4.6 billion allocated for stabilizing the Kiteezi slopes should instead be used to compensate the victims and resettle those living within the buffer zone. Lukwago stressed that compensation should not be symbolic but based on a proper valuation of assets lost during the landslide.
He expressed outrage that the government had only offered Shs2 million to each victim, calling it insufficient and insensitive. “This is not enough,” Lukwago said. “We need adequate compensation that truly reflects the losses these families have suffered.”
When asked to comment, KCCA’s interim boss, Frank Rusa, confirmed receiving the MoU from the Jaspong Group. However, he stated that no action has been taken yet. “It is true that we have received the MoU from the Jaspong Group, but we have sent it to the Attorney General, who is the principal legal advisor to the government, for his opinion,” Rusa said. He further clarified, “Nothing has been signed yet, and I have not appended my signature to anything.”
