By Robert Segawa
The Uganda Police Force is currently facing a challenging situation as seven bodies from the Kiteezi landfill collapse remain unclaimed and are still at Mulago Referral Hospital. This follows a catastrophic incident on Saturday, August 10, 2024, when the landfill collapse buried three villages, resulting in a tragic loss of 21 lives.
According to Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke, the identified victims include 12 males, 9 females, and 4 young children. So far, 14 of the deceased have been claimed by relatives and given a proper burial after identification.
The remaining seven bodies are still in the mortuary at Mulago Referral Hospital. Despite the difficult circumstances, the police remain hopeful that relatives will come forward to claim these bodies. Kituuma Rusoke stated that the identification process has been relatively straightforward, as the bodies were not severely burned or decomposed, thus negating the need for DNA testing.
The ongoing recovery operation involves collaboration between the police, Uganda Red Cross, UPDF, Ministry of Works, local leaders, and the Office of the Prime Minister. The search and recovery efforts are expected to continue, and the number of confirmed deaths may rise as the operation progresses.
The tragedy has highlighted the severe consequences of the landfill collapse and underscored the need for effective disaster response and management in the affected communities.
