The devastating floods caused by Friday’s torrential rainfall, which destroyed goods in downtown Kampala and left traders counting losses, have been largely attributed to the ongoing construction of the Nakivubo drainage channel by Kiham Enterprise Ltd, a private company linked to city businessman Hamis Kiggundu, also known as Ham.
The development, which initially drew criticism from Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and environmentalists due to its opaque approval process, has now sparked fresh outrage from traders who lost billions in the floods and blame the disputed project. So, who are the key players?
KCCA Council
The saga that culminated in President Museveni’s letter clearing the Nakivubo Channel giveaway began at the April 3 Ordinary Council meeting of the Authority, chaired by KCCA Speaker Zahara Luyirika. During the meeting, held under Minute No. KCCA/13/68/2024/25, the Council considered a report titled Challenges of Kampala Drainages and Way Forward. Fourteen resolutions were passed regarding the report presented by Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.
Mr Lukwago urged councillors to pass a resolution directing the KCCA Physical Planning and Building Committees to halt any further approval of Ham Enterprises (U) Limited’s plan to construct over the drainage channel or any other developer seeking to build permanent structures on drainage channels and wetlands. He also called for the arrest and prosecution of Mr Kiggundu and the reprimand of then Acting Executive Director Frank Rusa, who had facilitated the giveaway.
The Council rejected Lukwago’s proposal to involve the Inspector General of Government (IGG) in investigating how city tycoons acquired titles on drainage channels and wetlands. Instead, Councillors passed a resolution allowing KCCA to partner with credible local investors to develop and upgrade the city’s drainage system under KCCA’s supervision-citing declining funding from the central government and donors. They also rejected Lukwago’s call to demolish structures built by Ham Enterprises over the Jugula drainage channel. Resolution 12 states: ‘The recommendation that the criminal case against Ham Enterprises Limited be reinstated and Hamis Kiggundu be arrested and prosecuted was rejected.’
Resolution 13 adds: ‘The recommendation that the KCCA Physical Planning Committee and Building Committee be directed to stop any further processes of approving Ham Enterprises (U) Limited plan for construction over Jugula drainage channel or any other developer seeking to construct huge and permanent structures on drainage channels and wetlands was rejected.’
Mr Lukwago told this publication that, in addition to rejecting his proposals, the Council inserted new recommendations that effectively greenlighted the giveaway. He cited recommendation number 6: ‘KCCA explores the option of moving away from traditional methods of constructing open drainages and takes up regulated modern methods of drainage construction, prioritising covering and beautification to combat the persistent problem of flooding.’
He also pointed to recommendation number 7: ‘KCCA partners with credible and able local investors within the respective areas to develop and upgrade the city drainage system under the guidance, approval and supervision of KCCA in view of the fact that funding from the central government and donors was declining.’ In July, Mr Lukwago condemned the NUP-led Council after the businessman cordoned off the area. On July 22, he wrote to NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, urging him to take action against NUP councillors. Mr Rubongoya did not respond. Although Mr Rubongoya was unavailable to explain why NUP didn’t act, he earlier told NBS television that the councillors should have consulted more.
He confirmed that the party only learnt of the Nakivubo channel issue when the Lord Mayor wrote to him, by which time it was too late to intervene. The matter prompted the Council to convene a special sitting on August 26. Councillors denied passing such a resolution and accused the Lord Mayor of inciting public opposition against them. However, they did not sue him for defamation. No resolution was passed during the special sitting to rescind the earlier decisions.
President Museveni
President Museveni approved the businessman’s plan four months after the Council’s resolution and instructed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to facilitate the Nakivubo Drainage Channel giveaway to Mr Kiggundu. In his directive, the President tasked Ms Nabbanja with helping Mr Kiggundu implement his ‘very good and godly’ proposal. ‘Ham points out the fact that the channel is open, invites people to throw in rubbish, including plastics, feaces, all of which disgust the people contiguous to the channel, leading to blockages of the channel and flooding.
His proposal is imaginative and simple,’ read part of the letter. It continued: ‘Allow him to cover the channel after cleaning it and strengthening it at his own cost. What a godly proposal! How will he recover his money? Simple. Allow him to build properties above it that will bring back the money.’
The directive drew criticism from Mr Lukwago, Opposition leaders, and environmentalists, who warned that it bypassed the mandates of KCCA’s planning department and Nema, allowing Ham to build without oversight. Although KCCA officials, led by Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi, met with the developer and ordered a halt to construction, work continued.
Prime Minister Nabbanja
Upon receiving the directive, Ms Nabbanja facilitated the giveaway and pledged to ensure its implementation. After meeting traders at her office on August 26, she said: ‘The Lord Mayor is looking for relevance because he knows you people watch TV, he thinks he is exposing the government, yet he is exposing himself, but I want to assure you that the construction of this channel will go on as planned.’ The Lord Mayor had earlier warned of catastrophic consequences from what he called ‘illegal structures,’ but his concerns were dismissed.
Speaker Anita Among
In August, the House Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (Cosase) attempted to investigate the Nakivubo channel giveaway. However, Speaker Anita Among blocked the inquiry and instead directed the Chairperson of the Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure to lead a four-member oversight visit and report back within 14 days. The Committee, led by Kazo MP Dan Kimosho, visited the site on September 10. To date, Mr Kimosho and his team have not presented their findings to Parliament. (See related story on Page 6)
Background
In 2007, the then Kampala City Council, led by the late Mayor Nasser Ssebagala, approved private developers-Mr John Ssebalamu (under Sebco Trading Ltd), Mr Tom Kitandwe, and Mr Drake Lubega-to build commercial structures above Nakivubo Channel. Mr Ssebalamu, who is Mr Kiggundu’s uncle, was part of a proposal to establish a solar power plant, green spaces, parking yards, and commercial buildings. However, the plan was rejected after it was discovered that the developers had not conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment. Similarly, Ham Enterprises did not secure an Environmental Impact Assessment from Nema.
Speaking before the Defence and Internal Affairs Committee on September 10, during the presentation of the Forensic and Scientific Analytical Service Bill 2025, Nema’s Executive Director, Barirega Akankwasa, said there is no ongoing construction, describing the activities as mere unblocking of the channel. ‘Current activities are limited to unblocking the existing channel-removing silt and soil. The proposed upgrade has not commenced, as KCCA and Nema have not approved the designs or environmental impact assessments,’ he said.
He added: ‘We have automated our systems to process applications swiftly. For Kiham Enterprises, we’ve completed the scoping report review and are awaiting their formal application for an assessment certificate. There’s no delay.’ On Monday, traders sued KCCA and Mr Kiggundu, seeking a court order to halt the ongoing construction and demanding government compensation for their losses. Mr Lukwago also said he is urging councillors to pass a resolution halting the construction. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, however, cleared the works to proceed-albeit under clear supervision.
Timeline
April 3, 2025: Ordinary Council meeting discussed challenges of the Kampala drainage, authorised KCCA to partner with local investors within the locality to develop the drainage channels, and in the same meeting rejected a recommendation that IGG investigates the circumstances under which some tycoons acquired titles on some of the drainage channels.
April 10, 2025: Special Council Meeting discussed the Ham deal.
July 2, 2025: Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago writes to NUP SG Lewis Rubongowa to take action against NUP councillors.
July 25, 2025: Ham sent his Nakivubo channel redevelopment plan to President Museveni.
August 2, 2025: Museveni wrote to Nabbanja, approving Ham’s plan and directed that he be helped to execute the project.
August 16, 2025: Ham seals off Nakivubo Channel to commence construction.
August 19, 2025: Among wrote to Cosase halting probe into Ham dealings.
August 22, 2025: Cosase begins probe into Ham dealings.
August 26, 2025: Cosase summons Ham, Nema, and KCCA to explain the deal.
August 26, 2025: Cosase halts investigations into the giveaway of the Nakivubo channel.
September 10, 2025: Nema ED Barirega Akankwas denies approving the Ham project.
October 31, 2025: City floods, destroying goods worth billions of shillings.
November 3, 2025: Council demands construction be halted.
November 4, 2025: Nabbanja insists construction must go on as issues are being resolved.