A day after city authorities halted all ongoing construction activities at the disputed Nakivubo drainage channel due to non-compliance with approved conditions, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja visited the project and cleared the contentious construction to proceed. The Nabbanja decision to overturn Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) directives followed floods that submerged traders’ shops and merchandise worth billions of shillings.
She asked the developer to go on with construction and called for swift action to assess damages and prevent future disasters, offering consolation to affected traders.
But in a November 3 letter addressed to Kiham Enterprises (U) Ltd, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki raised serious concerns and instructed the city businessman Ham Kiggundu to immediately suspend all construction activities, citing violations of environmental conditions and non-compliance with planning until full adherence to the issued planning permission and building permit conditions was achieved.
This directive followed a technical inspection after heavy rains on October 31, which lasted approximately four hours, caused widespread flooding across the central business district, including Sebaana and Allen route roads, as well as adjacent properties.
According to KCCA, the flooding was partly linked to the Nakivubo channel construction activities.
The inspection revealed that the developer had blocked several stormwater discharge points, piled construction debris along the channel, and used timber formwork beneath bridge slabs, all of which disrupted the free flow of stormwater.
‘The ongoing construction of Nakivubo channel has sealed off several stormwater discharge points into the channel, causing a backflow along some parts of Sebaana and Allen roads. This explains why the water level in the channel was very low, yet the volume retained on the road was more and could not run off easily,’ the ED letter reads in part.
KCCA also noted that poor debris management and the use of vertical timber props exacerbated the situation by trapping garbage and slowing water movement.
In the letter signed by Ms Buzeki, Ham was directed to implement a series of corrective measures, including the immediate suspension of all construction works until full compliance with planning and building permit conditions is achieved, and removal of all formwork, hoardings, and timber props placed under the channel to restore the free flow of stormwater.
Others are opening of all tertiary drainage inlets on Sebaana and Allen roads to ensure unobstructed discharge of water into the channel, replacement of concrete culverts with open cut-off drains under the supervision of KCCA engineers, and the safe removal and disposal of all construction debris stockpiled along the channel edges.
To ensure enforcement, KCCA appointed a monitoring team led by Mr Maurice Kairania, the deputy director for roads and drainage, assisted by Mr Patrick Kaweesa, Mr Paul Rusoke and Mr Maximus Kwesiga, to submit progress reports to the executive director’s office.
In a phone interview, Mr Dan Nuwabine, the KCCA spokesperson, confirmed the Authority’s supervisory involvement since the construction commenced, but emphasized that the developer was operating under conditional approval.
‘We have been there to supervise because that’s our role, and as a directive or mandate of KCCA, we have to support the developer, not frustrate him. As you know, this was a conditional approval that had to be fulfilled,’ he stated.
The Nakivubo Channel is one of Kampala’s main drainage systems, running through the city center and discharging into Lake Victoria. Its ongoing redevelopment has attracted public scrutiny following recurrent flooding in the city’s business areas.
Mr Elias Lukwago, the Kampala Mayor, sharply criticised the handling of the crisis, describing the Prime Minister’s on-the-ground response as fumbling, with unpalatable directives and contradictions with the city authority.
‘Nabbanja’s approach to this crisis is as messy as Ham’s structure, which has no plan whatsoever. She has no policy agenda or action plan on how to address this particular crisis, and that is terrible. While Museveni directed that those who suffered losses should be compensated, Nabbanja stated there would be no compensation-only relief or financial support,’ he said.
Mr Lukwago added: ‘The sluggishness with which they are handling this matter is totally unacceptable, and we call for a harmonized government position on compensation and illegal structures along the Nakivubo Channel. Their position must be clear, and we must embark on implementation immediately.’
Background
The Nakivubo Channel is the main stormwater drainage channel for the city of Kampala. More than ninety-five percent (95%) of the developed central urban area of the city drains into this channel.
The main channel starts from springs located between Bat Valley, Wandegeya, and Makerere Kivulu to the northwest of the city, runs southwards for some three kilometres to Clock tower Roundabout, then turns eastwards for approximately five kilometres, through the Industrial Area of Kampala, before entering the swamp which leads to Lake Victoria, between Port Bell and Ggaba.
The existing channel is approximately 9 kilometres long, with a catchment area of approximately 27 square kilometers.