Cabinet Halts Kampala City Square Redevelopment Plan

Cabinet has reversed a proposed redevelopment of Kampala’s Constitutional Square, directing that the historic public space retain its protected heritage status. 

Minister of ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba announced the decision during a Uganda Media Centre briefing on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, citing the site’s historical significance, legal protection, environmental concerns and urban-planning implications.

Constitutional Square, which covers approximately 1.172 hectares across plots 5, 6 and 7 in Kampala’s central business district, houses the 1945 War Memorial commemorating Ugandan soldiers who died during the First and Second World Wars. The square’s protected status dates to 2007 and is recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, and a heritage protection instrument issued in 2024, according to the Cabinet briefing.

The decision halts the proposed redevelopment and preserves the site’s existing legal status. However, the government has not provided details of the proposed project, the reasons for its initial consideration or whether alternative development plans were assessed. The future management of the square, including conservation, maintenance and public access, also remains unclear.

The decision comes amid growing pressure to balance Kampala’s urban development needs with the protection of historic landmarks and public spaces. In a separate resolution, Cabinet approved the allocation of an additional six acres of government land to the United Nations Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, which currently occupies 20 acres.

Lumumba said the additional land would accommodate the centre’s expanding administrative and support functions as the United Nations consolidates some of its operations in Uganda. Figures presented during the briefing indicate that staff expenditure at the centre contributes approximately 40 million US dollars annually to the local economy, while contracts with local suppliers account for another 33 million US dollars.

Cabinet also approved Uganda’s national report for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a United Nations mechanism for assessing the human rights records of member states. The report covers access to justice, national human rights institutions, protection of women and children, refugee protection, education, healthcare, social protection, business and human rights, and climate change management. Its approval clears the report for submission to the UN Human Rights Council through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.