{"id":15184,"date":"2025-08-18T15:14:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T15:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=15184"},"modified":"2025-08-21T13:03:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T13:03:11","slug":"backlash-for-mayor-lukwago-as-city-goers-support-businessman-hamis-kiggundus-plans-to-upgrade-nakivubo-channel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/backlash-for-mayor-lukwago-as-city-goers-support-businessman-hamis-kiggundus-plans-to-upgrade-nakivubo-channel\/","title":{"rendered":"Backlash For Mayor Lukwago As City Goers Support Businessman Hamis Kiggundu’s Plans To Upgrade Nakivubo Channel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu, aka Ham, is set to redevelop the Nakivubo Channel, the city\u2019s most notorious drainage stretch that has for decades been a source of floods, pollution, and insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kiggundu through his company Ham Enterprises, has sealed off parts of Nakivubo Channel to construct modern infrastructure as part of the Nakivubo Stadium redevelopment, a project approved by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). He insists the upgrade is both a national duty and a legacy investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNakivubo Channel has been a source of floods, insecurity, and loss of life for too long. This redevelopment is about giving Kampala a clean, safe, and modern drainage system. It\u2019s a responsibility we owe our people, and a statement that Uganda is ready for the future,\u201d he explained after Mayor Elias Lukwago rallied opposition city councillors to oppose and block the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project, partly guided by CAF and CHAN inspection teams, is expected to transform Kampala\u2019s most problematic drainage system into an eco-friendly urban corridor, complete with underground flood-control chambers, solid waste filtration, pedestrian walkways, and green spaces. Officials from CAF have already commended the works, noting their importance ahead of Uganda\u2019s hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago lamented that the initiative was fraudulent, accusing Ham Enterprises of \u2018grabbing\u2019 public property and encroaching on a vital drainage channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is unacceptable for someone like Hamis Kiggundu to step in and claim to develop Nakivubo Channel on our behalf as KCCA, without any approved plans, and in the name of charity. What he is doing is illegal. If his intentions are genuine and lawful, why doesn\u2019t he present his proposal openly and transparently?\u201d Lukwago said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But his criticism has sparked backlash from city dwellers, traders, and analysts who argue that political fights are stifling meaningful development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gabito Thomas Okurut, a resident, said politicians are only \u201cwhining\u201d instead of embracing progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was the open channel helping them with, other than harboring thieves? All those trenches should be developed. We don\u2019t see open trenches in developed countries,\u201d he remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another city trader added that the redevelopment would bring order and safety to the central business district:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t see any issues provided he has properly designed for sufficient storm water flow. With proper engineering, this will even stop theft around the area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others argued that opposition to the project ignores the bigger picture, including the economic opportunities lost when Kampala missed hosting parts of CHAN due to structural weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe larger ecosystem of Kampala service providers has missed out on millions in accommodation, transport, food, and trade because of political fights and ego showboating. If you\u2019re tangibly concerned about Kampala, you should be sharing those deficits instead of fighting development,\u201d said one commentator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Long-Standing Problem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For decades, Nakivubo Channel has been synonymous with flooding, pollution, and safety hazards in Kampala\u2019s heart. The new development, estimated at billions of shillings, is intended to mitigate these risks while modernizing the city\u2019s infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experts say Lukwago\u2019s resistance is misplaced. \u201cHis focus on one developer overlooks widespread encroachment elsewhere, like at Garden City and Hotel Africana. Nakivubo\u2019s redevelopment is a step towards sustainable planning,\u201d one urban planner observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the project advances, it has been hailed as a model of self-driven development, relying on local investment rather than foreign aid. Supporters argue it will position Kampala as a smart city, boost tourism, and create new business opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the political side, Ham\u2019s backers insist that the redevelopment of Nakivubo is not just about concrete and steel, but about transforming one of Kampala\u2019s biggest urban liabilities into a lifeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kampala businessman Hamis Kiggundu, aka Ham, is set to redevelop the Nakivubo Channel, the city\u2019s most notorious drainage stretch that<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15185,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nakivubo2-1536x1024-1.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15877,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/two-traders-associations-sue-hamis-kiggundu-for-illegal-construction-along-nakivubo-channel\/","url_meta":{"origin":15184,"position":0},"title":"Two Traders’ Associations Sue Hamis Kiggundu For Illegal Construction Along Nakivubo Channel","author":"MOSES SSERWANGA","date":"November 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Two traders\u2019 associations have sued businessman Hamis Kiggundu for what they describe as illegal construction works along the Nakivubo Channel that has caused massive flooding , destroyed property and merchandise in billions of shillings . The suit, filed on Monday before the Civil Division of the High Court, also cites\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/download-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11062,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-calls-for-ppps-to-develop-sports-facilities-in-uganda-hails-kigundu-for-nakivubo-stadium-redevelopment\/","url_meta":{"origin":15184,"position":1},"title":"President Museveni Calls For PPPs To Develop Sports Facilities In Uganda , Hails Kigundu for Nakivubo Stadium Redevelopment","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"December 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Museveni has called for more Public Private Partnerhsips (PPPs) for the developmet of sports facilities across the country . 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