With State Minister for Local Govt, Balaam Barugahara expected in Lyantonde tomorrow, the spotlight is turning to the performance and accountability of local leaders following disturbing allegations that Lyantonde Town Council has allowed a resident’s private land to deteriorate into an illegal garbage dumping ground and a resting place for unclaimed bodies.
The controversy has raised fresh questions about the conduct of town council officials, their commitment to protecting residents’ property rights and their failure to address complaints that have reportedly dragged on for more than a decade.
At the centre of the dispute is Mzee Andrew Bamanya Mulindwa, a resident of Kyabazaala Village in Lyantonde Rural, who accuses Lyantonde Town Council of unlawfully using part of his 20-acre property as a garbage collection centre without resolving the matter.
Mulindwa says he purchased the land in 1986 from the late Kayiira and was shocked to discover that the local authority had turned part of his property into a dumping ground.
According to the elderly resident, the situation has progressively deteriorated, with garbage accumulating on the land, unclaimed bodies allegedly being dumped at the site without proper burial arrangements, and an unbearable stench affecting the surrounding community.
He further claims that his livestock have suffered devastating losses after feeding on waste dumped on the property, alleging that he loses approximately nine out of every ten cows each month.
These claims, if established, point to a serious environmental health concern, as well as questions about the protection of private property and the responsibility of local authorities to manage waste disposal facilities properly.
On November 12, 2026, a team led by Lyantonde Resident District Commissioner David Nkojjo Asaba visited the disputed site to investigate Mulindwa’s complaint and establish the extent of the problem.
Following the inspection, Nkojjo acknowledged that the town council had indeed been using part of the resident’s land for garbage disposal and condemned the situation.
He said the district team had followed up on the complaint to assess its seriousness and subsequently tasked the town council to clear the accumulated garbage.
The RDC’s intervention has placed further pressure on the town council to explain why the matter has remained unresolved despite years of complaints.
In response, Lyantonde Town Council LC3 Chairperson Ndamulira Ali Bongo said the council had previously held a meeting with Mulindwa, during which an agreement was reached to fence off the garbage collection centre.
He maintained that the council had approved a budget for the fencing works but blamed Town Clerk Victor Kagwisagye for the failure to implement the decision.
Bongo further revealed that the council had passed two resolutions to fence the facility, but neither had been implemented.
The Mayor also asked Mulindwa to direct his accusations towards the individual responsible for the failure rather than blaming the entire council, arguing that the political leadership had fulfilled its obligations.
However, the explanation raises an important question: If the council passed two resolutions and approved funding to address the problem, why has the situation remained unchanged?
Who is responsible for ensuring that council resolutions are implemented, public funds are put to their intended use and residents’ complaints receive timely attention?
Mulindwa says the dispute has been before the courts for more than 10 years, yet the alleged misuse of his property and the environmental concerns surrounding the dumping site remain unresolved.
He also recalls that in 2023, Her Highness Victoria Nakintu visited the area for fact-finding and reportedly directed the council to fence off the location where garbage was being dumped.
According to Mulindwa, that directive has not been implemented.
The continued accumulation of waste, coupled with allegations surrounding the dumping of unclaimed bodies, raises serious questions about environmental management, public health safeguards and the town council’s administrative performance.
The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive time, with Minister Balaam expected in Lyantonde tomorrow.
His visit provides an opportunity for local leaders to account for their stewardship and demonstrate what they have done to address the concerns of ordinary residents.
For a district that expects its leaders to deliver meaningful development, allegations of neglected council resolutions, unresolved land disputes and poor waste management cannot simply be brushed aside.
Lyantonde Town Council now faces difficult questions over its handling of the disputed property, the alleged failure to implement its own resolutions and the measures it intends to take to protect residents and restore proper sanitation.