City drainage: How safe are dwellers?

KAMPALA DRAINAGE

KAMPALA - Following the heavy downpour on Wednesday (March 26, 2025)  that claimed the lives of some Kampala residents and a general change in weather, city dwellers are facing the effects of a poor drainage system. 

Juliet Waiswa talked to KCCA authorities about the construction works on the Kampala drainage channels.

Margaret Semukutu, in her 60s, has been a resident of Central zone, Nalukolongo, Rubaga division in Kampala for the past 45 years. 

As a representative for women in the area, she has witnessed the suffering caused by the Nalukolongo drainage channel first-hand, especially during the rainy season. 

“When it rains, it floods. Due to the clogged drainage channel, it diverts to our houses, destroying our property. Residents spend days trying to reorganise what the rains have damaged. Those who own shops count losses as their merchandise is ruined,” Semukutu says. 

In the worst cases, children get trapped and drown in the channel. Semukutu said school-going children have drowned and nearby schools suffer the effects of floods. 

“When it rains, classrooms get clogged with plastic and stagnant water,” she said. 

Bodaboda riders have also drowned in the channel. Semukutu cannot tell how many because some incidents happen at night or in the early morning hours. 

Pharmacies, shops, eateries and bakeries along the channel face similar challenges during the rainy season. 

Against this backdrop, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) sealed off the box culvert at the Family Loaf bakery, along Nalukolongo in Nateete, Rubaga division, in early March to widen and rehabilitate part of the channel. 

This spot experiences severe flooding because the running water from Clock Tower, Kibuye, Kasenge and Nakawuka drains here. To mitigate persistent flooding in Nateete along Old Masaka Road, KCCA began constructing a box culvert at Family Loaf on the Nalukolongo main channel. 

The project involves widening the channel and as a result, the road will be closed, significantly affecting traffic flow in Nateete and surrounding areas. 

The construction is being carried out by Nippon Constructors Company in collaboration with KCCA engineers. The project, which began on March 3, is expected to last at least three months. 

Commuters using routes from Kampala to Kyengera, Masaka Road in Busega, as well as those in Nalukolongo, Mutundwe and Nakawuka should expect disruptions. 

According to KCCA, motorists accessing Nateete Taxi Park will be required to pay a fee since the park is privately owned and will be affected by the works. 

“The road and drainage works along Old Masaka Road on the Nalukolongo main channel will be completely cut off, meaning no vehicular traffic will pass through. Alternative routes must be used,” KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabiine said. 

He added that the project aims at curbing severe flooding in the area during the rainy season.

People attempt to drain flood water from a house in Kawaala, Rubaga division after Wednesday’s downpour.

Drainage channel upgrades 

Nalukolongo is one of three major city drainage channels earmarked for upgrades since 2019. The 30m wide channel stretches approximately 7km from Kibuye to Busega in Kampala. 

Other flood-prone channels in Kampala include Lubigi and Nakamiro. Rubaga mayor Zacchy Mberaze described the project as long overdue. 

“We have lost many people, especially when it rains in this area. Three months is a short time and I request the community to bear with KCCA,” Mberaze said. 

He said the Nalukolongo channel runs from Clock Tower through Kibuye, Nalukolongo, Kasenge and Nakawuka, but only the section at the box culvert at Family Loaf will be closed off. 

Family Loaf Bakery management declined to comment on the works around their factory.

Road Users 

Travellers using this route must go through Nateete Taxi Park. Rubaga division chairperson Charles Sentongo said users of the diversion route must pay sh1,000 for small vehicles, while lorries and buses pay sh2,000. 

Sentongo said the owners of Nateete decided to charge each car that passes through the park to fund repairs and maintenance.

Impact on schools 

At Umar Muslim School, management said pupils miss classes whenever it rains because water, which is supposed to flow into the drainage channel, ends up in the classrooms. 

Some students also fear falling into the drainage channel. While some residents welcomed the initiative, they urged KCCA to expedite the work to minimise disruptions.
 “Our businesses will be affected, so we pray that KCCA speeds up the work,” they said.

Pedestrians trying to cross flooded Nateete, Nakawuka Road following heavy rains on Wednesday last week.

Politicians respond 

During the presentation of the 2025/26 budget at City Hall in Kampala, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago expressed concern over the lack of substantial allocations for revamping the city’s drainage network. 

“We note with great concern that no substantial allocation has been made towards revamping the drainage network in the city,” Lukwago said. 

KCCA is prioritising stormwater drainage upgrades through the Second Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP II). 

The new plan includes rehabilitating and expanding the Nakivubo Channel and designing drainage systems for Lubigi, Kansanga/Ggaba and Kinawataka. 

Additionally, KCCA has prepared three priority investment packages for drainage works totalling 14.3km, including: 

• Lubigi primary drain (2,526m) and Nakamiro secondary drain (3,280m) 

• Nalukolongo primary drain (4,650m) 

• Kansanga primary drain (1,723m) and Ggaba primary drain (5,380m) KCCA is also in the process of reviewing and updating the Nalukolongo drainage system design.

Other drainage channels 

The Nakamiro Channel, designed to alleviate flooding in areas like Kawempe and Bwaise, is part of a larger effort to improve Kampala’s drainage infrastructure. 

The Lubigi Drainage Channel, maintained by KCCA engineers, is considered wide enough and there are no current plans for further expansion. However, some residents in Bwaise continue to face flooding issues.

Compensation 

All 332 property owners affected by construction along Nakamiro Channel have been compensated. Similarly, 140 properties along the Lubigi Channel have been valued for compensation. 

The affected property owners have presented documentation for payment ahead of construction in Kawaala and Nabweru in Wakiso district. 

However, the Bwaise section of the Lubigi Channel has no affected properties, as compensation was provided under KIIDP I in 2011. KCCA has engaged the Bwaise-Lubigi community to ensure the channel boundaries remain clear. 

The ongoing drainage projects in Kampala aim at addressing the persistent flooding. The latest happened last week and led to seven deaths and affected residents and businesses.

Kampala drainage Master Plan

In 2003, Kampala prepared the Kampala Drainage Master Plan to upgrade drainage systems and reduce the frequency of flooding due to increased urbanisation and development. 

However, settlements and industrial developments have expanded from Kampala’s hills into low-lying areas near drainage channels, which are part of wetlands and floodplains. 

This has led to increased flooding. For this reason, the National Environment Management Authority began evicting communities and demolishing structures in the Lubigi wetland last June. 

As of 2016, Kampala’s main drainage systems covered a total catchment area of 278.7km. 

Only two of the eight primary channels, Nakivubo and Lubigi, have been upgraded to date, leaving six primary channels and numerous secondary and tertiary drainage systems still undeveloped and prone to flooding. 

Due to rapid urban development and climate change, KCCA officials emphasised the need to update the Kampala Drainage Master Plan to guide future drainage upgrades and reduce flooding impacts.