Nakivubo Flooding: Lukwago Blames Ham for ‘Illegal Man-Made Disaster’

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has blamed the devastating floods that swept through the city yesterday on the construction being carried out by Business Ham Kiggundu on the Nakivubo Channel.

He has condemned the ongoing construction works by businessman Hamis Kiggundu’s Kiham Enterprises Limited at Nakivubo, describing the project as an illegal man-made disaster that warrants Kiggundu’s arrest and prosecution.

Lukwago’s remarks follow Monday’s heavy downpour, which flooded several buildings in downtown Kampala, destroying property worth millions of shillings. The flooding submerged homes in the slums of Mengo, Kisenyi, and around Owino Market, severely affecting traders whose businesses were washed away.

President Yoweri Museveni, in a letter to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja dated August 2, 2025, praised Kiggundu’s proposal, calling it “imaginative and simple,” and highlighting its potential to address longstanding problems of waste management and flooding by covering and modernizing the channel.

However, addressing journalists at City Hall, Lukwago accused Kiggundu of acting with impunity and alleged that some state actors were facilitating the illegal construction despite the absence of approved plans. He said Kiggundu was not rehabilitating the Nakivubo Channel but instead constructing commercial buildings on public land.

Lukwago further noted that Kiggundu had not obtained the necessary environmental permit from the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) or the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) — the two agencies responsible for overseeing activities along the Nakivubo Channel. 

“NEMA cannot issue a permit without an environmental impact assessment report in place. I have a letter from NEMA’s Executive Director, Balirega Akankwasa, dated August 22, addressed to the KCCA Executive Director, copied to my office and the Permanent Secretary for Water and Environment, requesting information on the Nakivubo Channel project. To date, this letter remains unanswered. The bottom line is, there’s no environmental assessment, yet construction continues illegally,” Lukwago stated. 

He added that proceeding with construction without approved plans and an environmental assessment is the “epitome of impunity,” particularly when KCCA has already issued directives to halt the work. Lukwago has called on KCCA enforcement teams to arrest Kiggundu and his associates, warning that failure to act would render the authority “irrelevant.”

The Lord Mayor also criticized Speaker of Parliament Anita Among for allegedly mishandling the Nakivubo Channel issue despite it being tabled before the House. He claimed that the parliamentary committee chaired by Dan Kimosho had failed to present its findings, hinting at a possible cover-up.

Edward Ntale, Chairperson of the United Arcaders Entrepreneurs Association (UATEA), described Monday’s flooding as devastating for the business community. He said more than 400 traders, shop owners, and street vendors were affected. “The truth is, most of our people will struggle to recover businesswise,” Ntale said, adding that the disaster struck at a time when traders are already burdened by rising rent, high electricity costs, and multiple taxes.