By BM
A fierce political battle is erupting over the future of Kampala’s Nakivubo Channel, after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni endorsed a controversial proposal by businessman Hamis Kiggundu to redevelop the heavily polluted drainage corridor.
While hailed by some as a long-overdue urban renewal effort, the project has sparked outrage among city leaders with Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and MP Eng. Ronald Balimwezo leading the resistance.
In a letter dated August 2, 2025, Museveni wrote to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja expressing strong support for Kiggundu’s ambitious plan to clean, cover, and redevelop the nine-kilometer Nakivubo Channel, transforming it into a modern, privately financed urban corridor.
The President described Kiggundu’s proposal which includes building commercial properties above the upgraded drainage system as “godly,” and instructed government officials to assist in its execution.
“Kiggundu pointed out that the channel is open, which invites people to throw rubbish including plastics, faeces, etc., all of which disgust the people contiguous to the channel, lead to blockages and flooding,” the President noted in his letter. “I approve of the plan. Help him to execute.”
Lukwago: “It’s a Land Grab Disguised as Development”
Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been one of the most vocal critics of the Nakivubo redevelopment, accusing Kiggundu of illegally encroaching on a public drainage reserve and worsening the city’s flooding crisis.
Lukwago has alleged that sections of the channel were fenced off and excavated without authorization, in violation of both environmental and planning regulations.
“This is a classic case of impunity. Public drainage infrastructure is being converted into private property with zero transparency,” Lukwago said in a recent council meeting. “This isn’t redevelopment it’s a well-orchestrated land grab, wrapped in the language of modernization.”
The Lord Mayor has also blamed Kiggundu’s earlier construction activities near Nakivubo for obstructing water flow, which he claims contributed to the devastating floods that hit central Kampala earlier this year.
Lukwago’s comments have sparked fierce debate, with Kiggundu’s allies and urban experts defending the developer’s intentions. They argue that the project is not only legal but essential to fixing a drainage system that has long been overwhelmed by waste, encroachment, and lack of investment.
Balimwezo Joins the Legal Battle
Now joining the fray is Nakawa East MP and Kampala Lord Mayoral hopeful, Eng. Ronald Balimwezo, who has vowed to take the battle to court.
Balimwezo claims that no formal council resolution exists to justify the channel’s “giveaway” to Kiggundu, and warns that failure to follow due process could open the floodgates to further illegal privatization of public assets.
“I have written to KCCA requesting the minutes of all meetings related to this channel’s status,” Balimwezo said. “If it turns out that this redevelopment was never sanctioned by the council, I will seek an injunction to halt all ongoing works.”
Despite his fierce criticism, Balimwezo clarified that he supports the modernization of the Nakivubo Channel in principle — but insists that it must be done legally and transparently, with clear public benefit.
A Divided City Hall
The tension has exposed a deep rift within City Hall, with technocrats at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) reportedly supporting the project under urban renewal frameworks, while the city’s political leadership remains staunchly opposed.
Critics argue that Kiggundu’s rapid fencing and early construction activities suggest a preemptive grab rather than a properly vetted public-private partnership.
Between Renewal and Controversy
Kiggundu’s plan envisions transforming Nakivubo from an open sewer into a covered, modern drainage system with green spaces, walkways, and commercial potential.
Supporters say the redevelopment could significantly improve sanitation, flood management, and economic activity in downtown Kampala if allowed to proceed.
But opponents warn that the stakes go far beyond Nakivubo. “If this deal is allowed to stand, it sets a dangerous precedent for the future of public land in Kampala,” Lukwago warned.
Kampala at a Crossroads
As bulldozers move in and legal papers begin to fly, the Nakivubo Channel is quickly becoming the center of a power struggle over the city’s future.
With the President’s backing on one side and political firepower on the other, this battle pits central government influence against local democratic oversight and may shape how Kampala defines development in the years to come.
For now, Kampala watches closely as the storm over Nakivubo intensifies with courtrooms, council chambers, and construction sites all bracing for impact. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
