By Ben Musanje
In the aftermath of the devastating floods that recently hit the heart of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, legal experts, civic leaders, and business stakeholders have come together to demand accountability for the disaster, which caused significant loss of life, property, and livelihoods.
The heavy flooding, which overwhelmed traders and citizens, is being labeled as a failure of both governance and law enforcement, exposing deep flaws in the city’s urban planning and regulatory frameworks.
Isaac Ssemakadde, President of the Uganda Law Society (ULS), delivered a damning critique of both government officials and private developers, accusing them of allowing the encroachment on crucial drainage systems like the Nakivuwo Channel.
Ssemakadde, who’s statement was read by Counsel Sheila Namahe, a member of the Radical New Bar (RNB) at ULS noted that Uganda already has a robust legal framework including the National Environmental Management Act (2019) and the Kampala City Council Act (2010), that should have prevented such a catastrophe.
However, he claims that these laws were either ignored or selectively enforced by public officials.
“These consequences are not accidental,” Ssemakadde declared during his address at the 42nd edition of the Radical New Bar’s RNBLive press engagement. “They are legally preventable. The tragedy is therefore not just environmental but juridical. It is a failure of law enforcement, administrative accountability, and urban governance.”
The ULS president pointed to the illegal construction of commercial buildings in drainage corridors, particularly along the Nakivubo Channel, as evidence of systemic corruption and institutional complicity.
He emphasized that the government must take immediate steps to not only restore the Nakivubo Channel but also hold accountable the public officers who facilitated these illegal developments.
“We must revive enforcement and amend outdated regulations to better address rapid urbanization,” he stressed, calling for reform to classify drainage corridors as permanent no-development zones under the Physical Planning Act.
Arthur Isiko, ULS Treasurer, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the pain and suffering caused by the floods, which had destroyed businesses and left many citizens homeless.
He likened the crisis to a “slow extinction” for Kampala if citizens and leaders do not confront the issue of ineffective governance. “We need to fight back and restore the glory of this nation,” Isiko urged.
The call for action was further supported by civil society leaders. Marion Kirabo, Executive Director of the NextGen Woman Initiative, criticized the government for its failure to protect citizens, advocating for aggressive legal action against those responsible for the flooding. “These are criminal acts. He needs to be behind bars,” Kirabo said, referencing accusations against those who have built in restricted areas and obstructed natural waterways.
Dr. Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, Chairperson of the National Entrepreneurs and Traders Association (NETA), warned that business owners have already faced massive financial losses due to the floods.
He pointed to the need for a unified approach involving legal, engineering, and civic stakeholders to ensure justice and compensation for affected traders.
Kampala’s urban planning and governance structures came under further scrutiny, with Allan Lwanga, a political candidate for Kampala Central, noting the alarming lack of transparency in leadership and disaster response.
Lwanga criticized the delayed emergency response to the floods, highlighting the inability of authorities to effectively manage the situation in real time. “It is inconceivable that emergency services were absent during the storm,” he said. “The fire brigade is just next door. How is it that traders had to remove water from their basements with buckets?”
The growing chorus of voices from Kampala’s legal, business, and civic sectors suggests that the floods were not just an environmental disaster but a failure of the city’s leadership to plan, enforce, and protect its citizens.
As the floodwaters recede, the calls for justice and accountability grow louder, with civil society and legal professionals determined to take the fight for Kampala’s future to the courts.
The message is clear: Unless Kampala’s governance and legal systems are reformed and enforced effectively, the city may continue to face crises that threaten its very survival. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
