Gov't to launch support program for Kiteezi residents- Minister Aber

The Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Relief, and Refugees, Lilian Aber, has revealed that the government plans to launch a livelihood program to support families in Kiteezi following a landfill that claimed 12 lives.

Aber, while she appeared on Sanyuka Television, she delivered  financial assistance to Kiteezi victims as recently ordered by President Museveni.

The minister, distributed Shs5m to each family that lost a loved one, and Shs1m to each of the 18 people that sustained injuries due to the landfill.

Aber, told Sanyuka Television that her ministry, in collaboration with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and other authorities, are set to launch a support program for victims especially those who lost their businesses due to the tragedy.

"During the meetings we had with KCCA and other authorities, we agreed to launch a livelihood support program for the victims. Some were saying they lost their businesses," she said.

The minister further expressed government's commitment to tackling Kiteezi waste management problem, and improving the welfare of the locals.

"What I can assure you is that we are considering you as a priority because even the President is focused on Kiteezi issue. Every hour, he asks about the welfare of Kiteezi people. I would like to thank him for giving out Shs5m to each family that lost a loved one. Whoever sustained an injury has received Shs1m," Aber asserted.

Last month, Museveni directed that families of each person killed in Kiteezi landfill be given shs5m, while those that sustained injuries receive Shs1m each.

“I have directed the State House Comptroller to financially assist the families of those who died with Shs5million per person who died and Shs1 million per person who was injured,” Museveni directed.

However, there have been delays in disbursing the money to the beneficiaries, which Aber attributes to verification issues.

"At first, we had received data that those who sustained injuries were 23, but upon verification we found out, there were 18," she told Sanyuka Television.

According to the minister, the government is developing a strategy to prevent the reoccurring of the landfill at Kiteezi and other waste dumping sites in the city.

"As the ministry, we are soliciting funding to prepare enough machinery so that we are up on the game of early warnings not only relief, and we shall succeed. I'm very optimistic because I can see that even the President is very committed to fix the issue of early warnings," she said.

The landfill, did not only claim dozens of lives, but also buried animals and houses of the locals.

On Monday, the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Beti Kamya, revealed that a comprehensive report on the landfill will be released in the coming weeks.