Kampala flood problems and proposed solutions

By Patience Mubangizi

Kampala experiences two wet seasons with peaks in the months of April-May and October November.

On Saturday, November 29, 2014, it rained heavily in Kampala and locations such as Kyambogo on Jinja Road flooded. Other black spot areas where heavy floods have occurred are Bwaise, Nateete, Nalukolongo, Ndeeba, Katwe, Clock Tower and Namasuba.

Floods in Kampala are due to natural and man-made causes. The natural causes include heavy rains, low lying and flat terrain and underlying clayey soil of poor water infiltration.

The man-made causes include encroachers’ developments such as buildings and cultivation in the drainage or wetland areas. Other man-made causes of floods have been identified as undersized and blocked drainage culverts or channels plus poor maintenance of the structures.

Floods have had an impact on affected areas of Kampala. There has occurred damage to property and infrastructure such as buildings, roads and others. Also contamination of drinking water from springs, wells and leaking pipes has occurred resulting into outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid and diarrhea, mainly in the densely, populated and poorly planned settlements.

Stagnant water pools near Bwaise and Kalerwe areas have developed into breeding grounds for mosquitoes which spread malaria. Engineers and environmentalists need to check the quality of designs, construction and environmental aspects of the drainage channels.

On some flood events, some people have lost their lives by drowning in these stagnant water pools. In situations where buildings and roads have flooded, business and traffic have been overwhelmingly disrupted.

Kampala is drained by channels such as Nakivubo, Lubigi, Nalukolongo, Kinawataka, Nyanama-Walufumbe and Kansanga. The functionality of the drainage system is limited because of its poor condition and lack of adequate maintenance.

In conclusion, it can be said that Kampala flood problem has reached a level requiring urgent and appropriate action.

Action could be through interventions such as upgrading and proper maintenance of the system, restoration of degraded wetlands, correction of conflicting land and environmental laws; building capacity for NEMA, KCCA and Environmental Police to enforce drainage protection; proper co-ordination of activities by KCCA/Kampala Land Board, Uganda Land Commission and Buganda Land Board etc.

The Government of Uganda under the wise leadership of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has the correct intervention policy in place. It is now a matter for the responsible agencies to act decisively to solve the flood problem.
 
The writer is a Special Presidential Assistant on Environmental Affairs at State House