The tug of war over businessman Hamis Kiggundu’s Shs180 billion plan to revamp Kampala’s troubled Nakivubo drainage channel has taken a new twist. Uganda’s environment regulator, NEMA, has poured cold water on reports that it has already given the greenlight for the ambitious upgrade.
Appearing before Parliament’s Defence and Internal Affairs Committee, NEMA’s executive director Dr. Barirega Akankwasa made it clear: no final approval has been granted. What Kiggundu’s team is doing at the moment, he explained, is limited to clearing debris and soil from the clogged channel.
“The full upgrade including covering the drainage and putting up commercial structures has not started because KCCA and NEMA have not approved the designs or assessed the environmental impact,” Akankwasa said.
Through his company Kiham Enterprises, Kiggundu envisions cleaning, covering, and reinforcing the Nakivubo Channel Kampala’s lifeline during heavy rains. His plan is to finance the upgrade by building shops and malls on top of the covered channel, a model he says guarantees sustainability.
Yet for regulators, the project is far from straightforward. Akankwasa noted that environmental and social impact assessments take a minimum of 60 days. “We have streamlined our systems. The moment we receive their formal request, we’ll act quickly. But right now, we’ve only seen preliminary details,” he said.
He stressed that NEMA’s role is not to delay projects but to safeguard the environment. “We cannot approve anything that worsens Kampala’s flooding risk,” he warned.
Divided Voices
The debate over the Nakivubo project has exposed rifts in Kampala’s political circles, especially within the opposition. Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been the loudest critic, accusing state agencies of being bypassed and warning that presidential directives risk undermining institutional checks and balances.
But Lukwago is increasingly isolated. His longtime rival, NUP’s Balimwezo, has openly backed Ham, praising the project as pragmatic and forward-looking. Other opposition politicians, while reluctant to go on record, quietly agree. “Kampala cannot be held hostage to politics anymore,” one told us. “Ham is bringing solutions, while Lukwago has spent 15 years blocking them.”
This sentiment is gaining traction among residents who see Lukwago as an impediment to progress. Many accuse him of using technicalities to stall development while the city sinks deeper into flooding, congestion, and squalor.
Expert Concerns
Not everyone is cheering. Some environmentalists and local leaders worry that covering the channel may restrict water flow and complicate maintenance. Kampala’s fragile flood control system, they argue, needs careful engineering rather than quick fixes.
But Akankwasa insisted NEMA will weigh those risks before making a decision. “If risks can be mitigated, we will approve with conditions. If not, we will reject. Our duty is to protect both Ugandans and the global community from environmental harm,” he said.
The Stakes
For Hamis Kiggundu, the stakes are high. With presidential backing and growing political support, his Nakivubo dream is closer to reality than ever before. Yet without the nod from NEMA and KCCA, heavy construction cannot begin.
In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on whether Kiham Enterprises submits comprehensive plans that pass the regulator’s test. If successful, Kampala could see a landmark transformation of its central drainage system. If not, another grand urban renewal project may be added to the long list of ideas derailed by politics and red tape.
For now, one thing is clear: while Lukwago clings to caution, much of the opposition — and the public appear ready to trade politics for progress.
