Nandala unveils master plan to rebuild Kampala into a clean and inclusive city

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FDC presidential candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi, on Saturday, November 29, 2025, outlined a comprehensive master plan to rebuild Kampala into a clean, organised, economically vibrant, and people-centred capital.

Speaking to journalists during his campaign trail across Makindye Division, moving through Kiruddu, Salaama Road, Nsambya, Kabalagala and Kulekaana, Nandala said Kampala had deteriorated to what he described as the worst city in the whole world, arguing that the problems were not inevitable but simply the result of poor leadership and neglected infrastructure.

“Kampala faces a waste management crisis, thousands of tonnes of garbage every day, and drainage channels blocked by rubbish. But we are not going to borrow from the World Bank to clean our city. Our city must be cleaned by its own leadership,” he said.

Nandala said his government will prioritise waste collection, recycling and turning garbage into useful products. According to him, waste can be processed into fertiliser and even used to make roads if properly dried and treated.

“I have seen it work in many countries. We shall make garbage collection efficient, and then turn it into fertiliser, and even roads. Nothing will go to waste,” he said.

Beyond sanitation, Nandala used the Kampala campaign event to present his economic vision for Uganda. He argued that high taxes were crushing small businesses and leaving ordinary Ugandans with very little disposable income.

He also highlighted that unemployment was driving young people into idleness, gambling and life on the streets. He promised a massive job creation plan to ensure every Ugandan has a dignified source of income.

With Kampala’s population increasing every day, Nandala argued that the city must be decongested to function effectively. He said his administration would establish industries in all 21 sub-regions of Uganda, reducing pressure on the capital.

“Kampala will remain an industrial hub, but this will be expanded in Wakiso, where there is expansive land. Why do we want everyone in the centre? If businesses operate outside, people will go outside,” he said.

He explained that industrialising Wakiso and other neighbouring areas would allow Kampala to breathe, ease traffic and reduce overcrowding.

On health, Nandala criticised the state of public clinics where patients are often told to buy their own medicines or pay for essential scans.

For the small businesses that dominate the city’s informal markets, He promised refrigerators and cheap credit.

"We shall give them seed capital to lift their businesses. Kampala’s mothers deserve modern working conditions,” he said.

Nandala emphasised that poverty in Kampala is partly driven by predatory moneylenders who trap struggling workers and traders in cycles of debt. 

He vowed to regulate moneylending, improve access to formal credit and protect vulnerable households.

Central to his Kampala master plan is the rehabilitation of roads and drainage channels. He said the city’s frequent flooding and poor road network were signs of failed governance.

“Most important is drainage, roads and sanitation. Management is the biggest issue. We have a mayor coming who is going to win, and his first task will be drainage. As government, we shall support him,” he said.

Several FDC candidates campaigning alongside Nandala echoed his message, saying the city needs leadership that delivers tangible results.

Ibrahim Kasozi, the FDC flag bearer for Lord Mayor, said Kampala needs a leader who “doesn’t just talk but acts”.

“The city needs transformation. The country needs to be fixed economically. That is what Nandala comes to do,” he said.

Minawa Farouk, FDC flag bearer for Kampala Central, said the capital’s challenges require structural solutions, not temporary fixes.

“We need a leadership that plans for people, not one that waits for disaster to act,” he noted.

Dinja Zubairi, councillor for LC3 Kisenyi Parish II, said residents were tired of living in a filthy environment.

“People in Kisenyi suffer because of poor waste management and insecurity, and disorganisation. If garbage is collected properly and roads are improved, our lives will change,” he said.

Lubega Francis, FDC flag bearer for Makindye West, said unemployment and high taxes were killing small businesses.

“Nandala’s plan to cut taxes and create jobs is exactly what Kampala needs,” he said. “People want to work, but they need a government that supports them.”

Nandala's remarks come less than two years after Kampala was voted one of Africa's best cities for its vibe, life, and inclusivity. The city has made significant progress, with over 85% of the roads completed under the Kampala City Roads and Bridges

Upgrading Project (KCRBUP). This four-year, €250 million project, funded by UK Export Finance, aimed to upgrade over 118 roads across the city.

Following the collapse of the Kiteezi landfill, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) acquired 230 hectares of land in Buyala, Mpigi District, for a modern waste management facility, which has significantly alleviated the city's garbage problem.