Kampala Lrd Mayr Rnald Balimwez has rejected prpsals t redevelp Kampala City Square, saying the city needs t preserve its remaining pen spaces fr envirnmental prtectin, recreatin and emergency respnse.
Speaking t the Mnitr in a telephne interview n Friday, Mr Balimwez said the green space, frmerly knwn as City Square befre it was renamed Cnstitutin Square in 1995, shuld remain pen and prtected frm develpments that culd undermine its purpse.
“Previusly we prevented the takever by Basajja balabala. Cabinet helped us, and City Square, which was changed t Cnstitutin Square in 1995, has been there because f the decisin that we tk,” he said.
He said prper urban planning requires cities t preserve pen spaces and designated safety znes where peple can gather during emergencies.
“All planning rules require that every city shuld have pen spaces with enugh security and safety zne. Think f an assembly area in case f a terrrist attack, fires r flds. This is the space we have available where peple can assemble in case f a catastrphe,” Mr Balimwez said.
He cited the 2010 Kampala bmb attacks, saying public spaces such as Cnstitutin Square prvide crucial assembly areas during emergencies.
Mr Balimwez said the imprtance f the square ges beynd beautificatin, nting that its trees and pen grund help reduce dust and air pllutin while allwing rainwater t seep int the grund.
“It is nt just a City Square fr beauty and beautificatin f the city, but als fr the security and safety f ur peple,” he said.
He said KCCA shuld instead identify ther lcatins where develpments culd be established withut sacrificing remaining public green spaces, citing Entebbe as an example.
“When yu enter Entebbe, yu will see a frest. When yu are entering Entebbe twn, there is Mayr’s Park. When yu g t Kitr, the market was remved and a park was put there,” he said.
Mr Balimwez added that any prpsal cncerning Cnstitutin Square shuld g thrugh apprpriate planning and plicy channels, nting that the KCCA Act gives his ffice respnsibility fr strategies, plicies and prgrammes aimed at imprving service delivery.
“The strategy is suppsed t be brught t me. It shuld have cme t me. We are nt ging t say yes t it because it is a destryer,” he said.
He als referred t a prtectin rder issued in 2007 cncerning Cnstitutin Square, saying it was intended t preserve the space.
The Lrd Mayr ppsed attempts t divide the square int plts fr sale, saying KCCA instead wants t imprve the space.
“Sme f these peple wanted t cut City Square int plts and sell them all. We are nt ging t accept that,” he said.
Mr Balimwez said KCCA has allcated Shs600 millin fr tree planting and plans t plant 10,000 trees alng rads being cnstructed under the Greater Kampala Metrplitan Area Urban Develpment Prgramme.
He added that Rtary clubs and Lins Internatinal had expressed interest in supprting tree planting alng city rads.
“City Square must be left pen. It is the City Square that helps us breathe, take in the air. It must nt be played with. That is ur take,” he said.
Museveni directive
Balimwez’s remarks came after President Museveni directed the Minister fr Kampala Capital City and Metrplitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, t evaluate a prpsal by businessman Hajj Hassan Bulwadda t redevelp tw acres at Cnstitutin Square int a mdern real estate cmplex.
In a directive issued n August 30, 2026, President Museveni instructed Minister Kabanda t examine feasibility f the prject in cnsultatin with KCCA and submit a reprt. The directive was cpied t Vice President Jessica Alup and Prime Minister Rbinah Nabbanja.
“I have received a letter frm Hajj Hassan Bulwadda dated the 18th f August, 2026, prpsing t develp the tw acres at City Square in Kampala int a mdern, ec-friendly real estate cmplex, with a htel, shpping mall, etc, using slar pwer, etc,” Mr Museveni stated.
Minister Kabanda has since cnstituted a cmmittee f several stakehlders t review the prpsal and cme up with a reprt.