Traders Sue Ham over Nakivubo Channel Construction Following Ravaging Floods

Over 300 city traders have dragged businessman Hamis Kiggundu, the National Environment Management Authority ( NEMA ) and the Kampala Capital City Authority( KCCA) to the High Court, seeking an order to immediately stop the ongoing construction along the Nakivubo Drainage Channel.

The traders, operating under the Kampala Arcaders Traders Association (KATA) and UNATA Traders Association Uganda Limited, accuse the three defendants of illegally covering and erecting structures on the drainage channel without the required environmental and physical planning approvals.

In their court filing, the traders claim that Kiggundu began the construction works in August this year after obtaining a letter from President Yoweri Museveni to the Prime Minister, recommending the project to commence. 

However, the traders argue that the presidential directive did not exempt the Ham from following the law, including obtaining an Environmental Impact Assessment  certificate and securing an  approval from  KCCA.

The traders  further state  that since construction began, severe flooding has hit several nearby arcades and buildings, leading to the destruction of merchandise worth billions of shillings and yet  despite several attempts to engage the Ham and the concerned city authorities, no action has been taken to address their grievances.

The traders are now asking the court to declare the ongoing construction works on Nakivubo drainage Channel as  illegal and  also issue a permanent injunction stopping further construction.

The aggrieved traders further seek compensation orders for the losses they incurred and also compel authorities to remove debris and restore the free flow of water through the Nakivubo Channel.

The High Court has not yet set a date for the hearing of the case.