Anger and frustration filled the air outside the High Court on Thursday as downtown Kampala traders protested the continued delays in their case challenging alleged illegal construction works on the Nakivubo Drainage Channel.
Many traders arrived carrying placards with messages such as ‘Judges treat all Ugandans equally,Judges stop working from orders above, and Judges stand on your own. They said the slogans reflected their growing fear that justice was slipping further out of reach.
The matter, filed by two traders’ associations seeking an injunction against businessman Hamis Kiggundu, Kiham Enterprises Ltd, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), had been scheduled for mention. However, the trial registrar, Simon Kintu Zirintusa was said to be handling other administrative duties, prompting yet another adjournment this time to February 24, 2026.
One of the traders, Justine Nabirye, expressed deep disappointment over the repeated postponements.
‘The last time we came to court we were told that the judge is not around, that he was away on leave, yet he is the same judge who gave us the date without anyone forcing him,’ Nabirye said.
She said traders were increasingly unsure of where to turn.
‘Many traders downtown lost their property while others lost their lives. We are asking ourselves who is going to compensate us. Our hope was in court but they are tossing us up and down. We do not know which the right thing is.’
Nabirye added that flooding had severely affected their livelihoods.
‘Our property was spoiled by water and we were not compensated, yet UIRA were compensated. Our children have not gone to school. We are asking, as traders, are we Ugandans or not? Does the law work on everyone or only the rich? Where shall we run to? We are oppressed.’
The application was filed by the Kampala Arcaders Traders Association (KATA) and UNATA Traders Association Uganda Limited, representing hundreds of traders operating around Nabugabo Street, Shauri Yako, Channel Street, French Plaza, Pentagon Arcade, BMK Plaza, Mukwano Arcade and Magoba Arcade.
The traders accuse Kiggundu and Kiham Enterprises of beginning construction on the Nakivubo Drainage Channel in August 2025 without the required environmental and physical planning approvals from NEMA and KCCA.
Kiggundu, through his lawyers, states that the traders have no legal basis to challenge the developments and that the case amounts to an abuse of court process. He is asking the High Court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.