MPs inspect ongoing works at Nakivubo drainage channel

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A fact-finding team of Members of Parliament appointed by Speaker Annet Anita Among on Wednesday (September 10) visited the Nakivubo drainage channel to assess its redevelopment, upgrade, beautification and drainage improvement in the heart of Uganda's capital, Kampala.

This was after the Speaker halted investigations into the redevelopment of the channel by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE), headed by Busiro East legislator, Medard Ssegona.

She instead on August 19 appointed a four-member team headed by Dan Kimosho, the chairperson of the Physical Infrastructure committee, to lead the team. Others on the team include MPs David Kabanda (Kasambya County), Peter Mugema (Iganga Municipality) and Kibedi Nsegumire (Mityana North), who were tasked with submitting a report on their findings.

City businessman Hamis Kiggundu, who is conducting the drainage channel redevelopment, received the team and led them on a guided tour of the ongoing works, undertaken by Kiham Enterprises.

Kiggundu and MPs conducting a guided tour of the redevelopment of the Nakivubo drainage channel. (Courtesy)

(Courtesy)

Kiggundu told the legislators that they had started the construction with the sensitive area around Kyaggwe Road stretching up to the Police Fire Station adjacent to the Clock Tower.

He said all workers on the project are Ugandans, emphasizing that “this is our project as Ugandans”. He said he currently employs close to 4,000 workers, who are working day and night shifts. 

Ham, as he is better known, said that the Nakivubo drainage channel has been doubled in width to have the capacity to allow water passage even during heavy rains.

“This channel has been widened to 12 metres from its original size of six metres. It was narrow, but we have widened it with a flat control chamber, which means water cannot flood,” he said.

He added that they have projected the channel to have a lifespan of a minimum of 70 years of smooth water flow, with downstream and upstream water.

“We have been studying this drainage for some time, analysing how it behaves when it rains. These studies have helped us to make conclusions before we implemented the work."

Among other provisions, said the businessman, the channel will have ground power connections that will make it easy to inspect. 

“We sent our engineers abroad for benchmarking in countries and cities with modern channels like New York, Ivory Coast, where they found a similar channel that crosses the city like ours."

Some of the biggest challenges the construction team met, according to Kiggundu, are that it is open, which enables people to pour solid waste into the running water, causing serious blockages.

“This channel was originally designed to carry storm water, but pouring solid waste has been causing serious interference with the flow of water, which causes flooding."

The other challenge Kiggundu mentioned is the rampant insecurity that the channel causes to the city dwellers, with a number of pickpockets snatching valuables from pedestrians, mainly women, and running off into the channel, which has been their den.

“Now, such insecurity is going to be eliminated. We shall not see any of such incidents here."

Kiggundu said that from the general perspective, the solutions to any problem must come from within the people who live in the area. “It is important if we Ugandans can implement this project fully."

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago had appealed to Parliament to intervene on matters pertaining to the redevelopment of the Nakivubo drainage channel.

On August 18, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni wrote a letter to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja directing her to approve Kiggundu’s plan to redevelop the channel and support him in its implementation.