By David Serumaga
Earlier this week, Kampala received welcome news from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA): the long-neglected Nakivubo Drainage Channel is finally set for a major redevelopment. The project, spearheaded by businessman Dr. Hamis Kiggundu through Ham Enterprises, promises to change the face of downtown Kampala.
For decades, the open Nakivubo trench has been more than just an eyesore. It has been a breeding ground for disease, a hideout for criminals, and a constant threat to businesses and households vulnerable to flooding. For traders in Owino Market, shop owners along Nakivubo Road, and pedestrians in the central business district, the channel has represented insecurity, filth, and despair. Mothers feared for their safety in the evenings, while traders lived in constant anxiety every rainy season.
That is why this redevelopment is not just timely—it is overdue. Kampala cannot claim to be a modern capital while its heart is marked by such neglect. The floods we have repeatedly witnessed have destroyed livelihoods, taken lives, and paralysed the city’s economy. Every heavy downpour became a reminder of our city’s infrastructural failure.
What makes this project unique is its financing. Dr. Ham is footing the entire bill—something unheard of in most public works. Unlike the usual projects funded by taxpayers or foreign donors, this one relieves the government of the financial burden and allows scarce public resources to be redirected to schools, hospitals, and rural development. That is patriotism in action.
Of course, Dr. Ham is not acting as a charity. His model is both sustainable and innovative—covering the drainage channel and constructing modern shops on top. This not only guarantees proper maintenance but also creates jobs, commercial space, and new revenue streams. It is a win-win situation for the city and its people.
The timing could not be more critical. With Uganda set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the eyes of the world will be on Kampala. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) had already flagged the open channel as a major risk to Nakivubo Stadium’s approval. By redeveloping it, Uganda is not only solving a domestic problem but also meeting an international requirement that will define our ability to host Africa’s biggest football tournament.
We have already seen results. Earlier this year, when a heavy downpour submerged several parts of the city, the Nakivubo and St. Balikuddembe area remained largely unaffected thanks to Dr. Ham’s preliminary works. This proved what many doubted—that Kampala’s flooding crisis is not inevitable, but a result of mismanagement.
Importantly, this is not a rogue private project. President Yoweri Museveni himself endorsed it, praising Dr. Ham’s track record with Nakivubo Stadium and recognising the urgency of the drainage upgrade. For the President, this is about more than construction—it is about safety, dignity, and Uganda’s image on the continental stage.
Yet, predictably, politics has crept in. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has opposed the initiative, choosing once again the path of confrontation rather than solutions. After more than two decades in leadership, the residents of Kampala deserve more than rhetoric. Traders want security for their goods, commuters want passable roads, and families want clean surroundings. Leadership should be about solving problems, not clinging to old battles.
The bigger picture here is that KCCA’s partnership with a local investor signals a shift Kampala desperately needs. For too long, development in the capital has depended on government budgets or foreign aid. But the truth is clear—Ugandans must also build their own city. If the Nakivubo project succeeds, it could set a precedent for public-private partnerships that drive meaningful urban transformation.
Ultimately, this redevelopment is not just about an engineering fix. It is about people. It is about traders selling without fear of floods, mothers walking their children along safe streets, youth finding jobs in new business spaces, and a capital city that reflects the dignity of its nation.
It is time we put politics aside and embraced solutions that put people first. Kampala deserves better. And the Nakivubo redevelopment is a bold step in the right direction.
David Serumaga | The writer works with Uganda Media Centre.
