By Aggrey Baba
The decision by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to approve the redevelopment of Nakivubo Channel by businessman Hamis Kiggundu (Ham) has triggered fresh debate among city leaders, environmentalists, and sections of the public.
On October 3, 2025, NEMA issued a five-year environmental and social impact assessment certificate to Kiham Enterprises Uganda Limited ?(Ham’s company), authorizing it to proceed with the redevelopment plan, indicating that the project had been reviewed under the National Environment Act, CAP 181, and found to meet the required standards.
Officials from NEMA explained that the approval followed a comprehensive review of the project’s potential environmental and social effects, and directed the developer to implement several mitigation measures to ensure that the construction and operation phases do not endanger the environment or surrounding communities.
The project, which had earlier been approved by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in September, involves the construction of 12 commercial blocks, each four storeys high, along Plot M878 on the Nakivubo Channel. The plan also includes a large tank slab to cover part of the drainage channel.
However, despite official clearance, the project remains controversial, with environmental groups faulting NEMA for granting approval without sufficient public consultation. They argue that the redevelopment should have involved discussions with affected communities and environmental experts to identify potential risks and recommend safety measures.
According to environmental analysts, as the NewVision reports, construction activities around the channel have in recent years worsened flooding in parts of downtown Kampala. They note that the original open channel, although old, acted as a natural drainage corridor, and any form of construction above it could disrupt water flow.
Concerns have also been raised over transparency in the approval process, with critics within the city leadership saying the decision to hand the project to a private developer was made without adequate accountability and could set a bad precedent for the management of public infrastructure.
The controversy intensified in August when construction workers, under police protection, began fencing off sections of the channel to pave way for redevelopment, a move which attracted protests from vendors and residents who accused Ham of taking over public land.
He ((Ham), however, has maintained that the redevelopment is aimed at modernizing the drainage system and improving security in the city centre, emphasizing that the project seeks to widen the channel, construct flood chambers, and establish proper waste control systems to prevent flooding.
The project has also received backing from the central government. President Museveni recently directed the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, to support the proposal, describing it as part of efforts to modernize Kampala’s infrastructure.
Observers have described the Nakivubo redevelopment as a test case for how the government manages the balance between private investment and public interest in major urban projects. While some view it as a long-overdue intervention to improve city drainage, others believe it represents a gradual loss of public ownership over strategic infrastructure. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
