By BM
Suzan Kushaba, the aspiring Kampala Central Member of Parliament, has issued a strong call for President Yoweri Museveni (for whom she is a diehard supporter) to immediately reverse the recently approved redevelopment order that threatens to displace thousands of vulnerable residents in downtown Kampala.
The redevelopment plan, which was green-light by a letter signed by President Museveni and granted to prominent businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, has sparked widespread outrage. UNAIDS boss Winnie Byanyima is among those who have called upon the President to change course.
According to the Wednesday Daily Monitor editorial, the project targets a vital drainage corridor near Owino Market, an area home to informal traders and low-income families who have long relied on the space to earn a living.
Addressing the media in Kampala on Wednesday, Kushaba condemned the government’s silence on the issue and accused the administration of sacrificing the welfare of ordinary Ugandans to benefit wealthy investors.
“We have seen how this government has quietly handed over public assets to private individuals without thinking of the consequences,” Kushaba said. “People are being uprooted with no notice, no compensation, and no alternatives. They are crying out for help, but no one is listening.”
Development or Displacement?
While the government defends the redevelopment as a step toward modernizing Kampala and improving infrastructure, Kushaba (who for many years traded in Owino market among fellow poor persons) contends that such progress should not come at the expense of the city’s poorest residents.
“Development is important, but it must be inclusive. Who is the development really for when thousands are evicted and left homeless?” she questioned. “President Museveni must reconsider this decision. The letter he signed is hurting people, not helping them.”
Kushaba also pointed to previous projects such as the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, which was redeveloped into what is now “Ham Stadium” under similar circumstances.
She criticized the lack of transparency around the stadium’s ownership and revenue, questioning whether the public has truly benefited from such privatizations.
Ministers’ failure
Kushaba has raised fresh concerns about the ongoing crisis in Kampala, particularly pointing fingers at government ministers who, according to her, have turned a blind eye to the suffering of ordinary Ugandans.
“For five years, Ministers Minsa Kabanda and Kabuye Kyofatogabye have done nothing to improve the state of Kampala. Instead of serving the people, they’ve allowed individual investors to take over Kisenyi and begin selling off shops to Kenyans and Eritreans,” Kushaba said.
Kushaba painted a grim picture of the state of Kampala’s public infrastructure and services under the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
“Visit the markets, visit the schools managed by KCCA you will cry. These ministers sit in cabinet meetings and yet Kampala remains in ruins. Billions are allocated to maintain the city, but where does the money go? Kampala generates huge tax revenues for the government, yet there’s always the excuse that there’s no money for development.”
She accused top officials including Tayebwa and Kiggundu of taking possession of public land, specifically referencing the controversial case of Nakivubo Settlement Primary School.
“It is a lie that Nakivubo will be beautified. That land was taken over by Ham, not for public good, but to build his own private shops. There are public officials who got one acre each. The stadium project that should benefit the people has been turned into a personal business.”
Kushaba further questioned who’s really behind Ham’s city takeover and the source of the money he splashes around like water.
Call for Accountability and Transparency
The former chairperson of St. Balikuddembe Market (Owino) and a well-known advocate for market vendors urged the President to recall the approval letter and launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the land transfer and redevelopment agreement.
“Mr. President, you said you were securing Uganda’s future. How can you do that if you ignore the suffering of your own people?” Kushaba asked. “We demand full transparency and accountability. The public deserves to know who benefits from these deals and who pays the price.”
She also criticized the role of Kampala city officials and ministers, accusing them of either being complicit or inactive while the livelihoods of thousands are destroyed.
“The Minister for Kampala sits quietly in Cabinet while this disaster unfolds. Is this what she advises the President?” Kushaba challenged. She is eyeing the MP Seat, which Kabanda is also running for on the NRM ticket.
Defying Political Barriers
Kushaba, who recently announced her intention to run for the Kampala Central parliamentary seat as an independent candidate after being denied the NRM party ticket, vowed that her campaign will be centered on defending the rights and dignity of Kampala’s urban poor.
“I may be running as an independent, but I am driven by the people not party politics,” she said. “I cannot stand by and watch my community suffer in silence.”
She praised Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago for standing with affected traders and urged all Ugandans to unite against policies that marginalize the poor.
A Warning Ahead of Elections
With Uganda heading toward general elections, Kushaba warned that the government’s handling of the redevelopment issue could have political repercussions.
“The people will remember who stood with them and who abandoned them,” she said. “If the government continues to ignore the cries of the poor, it risks losing the trust of its citizens.”
She concluded with a plea to President Museveni: “Recall that letter. Stop the evictions. Investigate the matter thoroughly. Kampala’s poor deserve justice, dignity, and a voice.”
Kushaba expressed outrage that the President signed off on a letter enabling these developments without properly investigating the implications.
“President Museveni has signed many letters, but this one was not good for the people of Kampala. That letter must be recalled and the matter thoroughly investigated. We are heading into elections and the Christmas season—traders need support, not evictions.”
She warned that such decisions could cost the NRM heavily in the upcoming elections. “As an aspiring MP on an independent ticket, I cannot watch as people are tortured and displaced. NUP will use the President’s letter against NRM to win Kampala again. Many opposition councillors in KCCA were allegedly given money to allow illegal constructions, and now they’re using that to outmaneuver the ruling party yet they already ate. I challenge them to prove me wrong by publicly standing with Erias Lukwago on this issue.” Se called on Kampala voters in all the five divisions to make the Nakivubo channel development into a campaign issue and only vote for those who resisted money and stood with them.
Kushaba commended Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago for standing with the people: “I thank Lukwago for defending the poor. Meanwhile, some NRM members pose as loyalists by day, but change sides at night.”
She called on President Museveni to reflect: “Mr. President, sit down and review what you were advised to sign. Kampala deserves better. You claim there’s no money, but every day we see bags of cash in officials’ homes. How can the government be broke when these same individuals own properties here and abroad?”
Kushaba also raised alarm over evictions in Garuga, reportedly linked to the same developer and warned that powerful individuals are using public projects for private gain. “He has evicted many people in Garuga, and the government is silent. He’s not acting alone—he’s shielding big people in government. Look at how he splashes money like water—where is it coming from?”
She concluded with a call for fairness and protection of the vulnerable: “Enough is enough. The government must decide — is it here to protect all Ugandans or just the rich? Markets like Nakivubo should not be turned into private estates. If relocation is necessary, it must be done only after the government has prepared proper alternative spaces. Projects given to individuals on behalf of the public should benefit Ugandans, not the families of the well-connected.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
