KCCA blamed for city floods

Sep 19, 2011

The works and transport minister, Abraham Byandala, has blamed the current floods in the city on delays by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in implementing the Kampala Drainage Master Plan.

BY S. BALAGADDE

The works and transport minister, Abraham Byandala, has blamed the current floods in the city on delays by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in implementing the Kampala Drainage Master Plan.

Byandala said this last week while briefing journalists on the measures the Government will undertake to decongest the city.

He argued that failure to implement the drainage plan had contributed to the increase in flood water in the city, leading to the death of pedestrians.

Last week, Brenda Omuntu, an employee of Barclays Bank and a boda-boda cyclist died after they drowned in the Nakivubo Channel during a heavy downpour in Kampala.

Byandala said the master plan was meant to improve the water flow in drainage channels.

The channels include Nakivubo, Lubigi, Nalukolongo and Kansanga. The others are Kinawataka, Naluboga and Walubumbe.

The minister pledged to work with the Police and KCCA to ensure that the drainage system is improved.

He also said plans are underway to decongest the city by streamlining public transport.


BY M OCHAKOLONG

The public must be sensitised on garbage disposal so as to reduce the blockage of drainage channels in Kampala, the Assistant Inspector of Police, Julius Shariita, has said.

“Something must be done about our roads. I am going to write to the Inspector General of Police to instruct KCCA to sensitise the public about the dangers of throwing litter into drainage channels,” Shariita said.

He said this on Friday at a funeral service for Brenda Omuntu Katiiti at St. Andrew’s Church in Bukoto.

Omuntu and a boda boda cyclist were swept into Nakivubo Channel during a heavy downpour in Kampala last week.

“Omuntu died because of our irresponsibility. If that drainage channel was not blocked by litter, she would not have died,” Shariita said.

“Let KCCA play its role as mandated by law. The public should not dump rubbish in drainage channels,” he said.

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