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Cabinet rejects City Square development proposal
Bulwadda had, on August 18, 2026, written to President Yoweri Museveni seeking to put up a solar-powered, eco-friendly modern commercial and business complex at City Square, which covers approximately 1.172 hectares and comprises plots 5, 6 and 7.
Cabinet rejects City Square development proposal
By: Umaru Kashaka, Journalist @New Vision
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Cabinet has rejected businessman Hassan Bulwadda's proposal for the development of City Square, formerly known as Constitutional Square in Kampala.
Bulwadda had, on August 18, 2026, written to President Yoweri Museveni seeking to put up a solar-powered, eco-friendly modern commercial and business complex at City Square, which covers approximately 1.172 hectares and comprises plots 5, 6 and 7.
ICT and national guidance minister Justine Kasule Lumumba revealed the development at a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday, October 27.
She was communicating decisions made by Cabinet at a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni on Monday.
"Yesterday (Monday), the President brought the issue of the proposal for the development of the Constitutional Square in Cabinet and put it for discussion before ministers. Discussions went on, and a final resolution was that it should stay as is. It should retain its existing legal status," Lumumba said.
The minister noted that in August this year, the President had directed Kampala affairs minister Minsa Kabanda to study Bulwadda's proposal, discuss it with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and report back to him.
The directive was contained in the President's letter to Kabanda dated August 30, which was also copied to Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
"The Cabinet decision now puts aside the President's letter to Minister Kabanda. The President listens," Lumumba said.
She also stated that City Square is a protected heritage site.
The minister noted that in August this year, the President had directed Kampala affairs minister Minsa Kabanda to study Bulwadda's proposal, discuss it with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and report back to him.
The directive was contained in the President's letter to Kabanda dated August 30, which was also copied to Vice President Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
"The Cabinet decision now puts aside the President's letter to Minister Kabanda. The President listens," Lumumba said.
She also stated that City Square is a protected heritage site.
"Its protection comes way back in the 1962 Constitution, and it is also recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act of 2003 and the Heritage Protection Instrument issued in 2004. It also has another constitutional layer which came with the 1995 Constitution and named it the Constitutional Square," Lumumba noted.
She emphasised that City Square contains the 1945 war memorial, which commemorates Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
"The Square and its memorial are part of our national history. Decisions about the site must respect the history and its protected status," the minister told journalists.
In his proposal, Bulwadda had sought to construct a 13-storey shopping mall with 2,500 shops and a hotel.
“The complex will create over 30,000 jobs for Ugandans and have parking for 1,500 cars at any given time,” he said.
He also said the complex would have free Wi-Fi, water fountains, a green rooftop and free luxury toilets. He added that the developer would maintain the road between the two plots, which measure 2.9 acres in total.
She emphasised that City Square contains the 1945 war memorial, which commemorates Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
"The Square and its memorial are part of our national history. Decisions about the site must respect the history and its protected status," the minister told journalists.
In his proposal, Bulwadda had sought to construct a 13-storey shopping mall with 2,500 shops and a hotel.
“The complex will create over 30,000 jobs for Ugandans and have parking for 1,500 cars at any given time,” he said.
He also said the complex would have free Wi-Fi, water fountains, a green rooftop and free luxury toilets. He added that the developer would maintain the road between the two plots, which measure 2.9 acres in total.