Uganda Today: Lukwago Castigates Museveni for Usurping KCCA’s Authority in Nakivubo Channel Redevelopment Deal
Kampala | Uganda Today – Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has launched a scathing attack on President Yoweri Museveni for what he termed as a blatant usurpation of the legal mandate of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), following a leaked presidential directive authorizing businessman Dr. Hamis Kiggundu to build commercial properties over the Nakivubo Drainage Channel.
The controversial letter dated 2nd August 2025, and addressed to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, bears the unmistakable seal of presidential endorsement. In it, Museveni refers to Kiggundu’s proposal as “imaginative and simple” and instructs government agencies to “help him to execute” the plan, including giving him leeway to construct properties “above [the channel] that will bring back the money”.
“Museveni is Now Acting as Kampala’s Chief Architect?”
Lord Mayor Lukwago, in a hastily convened press briefing at City Hall, questioned the legal basis of the president’s unilateral directive.
“Since when did the President become a city architect or urban planner? This is a travesty of urban governance and an alarming overreach into the mandate of KCCA. Kampala is not a personal estate to be portioned out by a single pen stroke,” Lukwago fumed.
The Lord Mayor also queried whether the letter confers perpetual ownership rights of the Nakivubo Drainage Channel to Kiggundu, a known regime-leaning investor.
“Is this the formal privatization of Kampala’s drainage infrastructure? Has a critical public utility become a commercial playground simply because someone can foot the construction bill?”
Who Issues Building Permits in Kampala?
According to established law, building permits in Kampala are exclusively issued by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) through its Development Control Section. This body is responsible for reviewing architectural designs, verifying land ownership, enforcing environmental compliance, and ensuring all construction aligns with Kampala’s structural integrity and urban plan.
The President’s letter, however, skips over these procedural checks, sparking fears of institutional redundancy and governance collapse.
“This directive undermines KCCA’s authority, bypasses legal scrutiny, and sets a dangerous precedent. Public land must not be surrendered in such a casual manner,” Lukwago added.
Drainage or Deal-Making?
Nakivubo Channel, a vital stormwater drainage path, has long suffered from neglect, dumping, and encroachment. While Kiggundu’s proposal highlights genuine concerns, critics warn that the commercialisation of public drainage corridors — without a transparent competitive bidding process or environmental safeguards — may do more harm than good.
Environmentalists are also concerned about the long-term impact of constructing heavy commercial structures over a dynamic drainage system prone to flooding and overflow during heavy rains.
Public Outcry
Social media has erupted in outrage, with many Ugandans questioning how national infrastructure is now being handed out through handwritten directives, without parliamentary oversight or city council consultations.
“Today it’s Nakivubo Channel. Tomorrow it will be the city sewer line sold for a mall. Are we still a country governed by institutions?” a furious Kampala resident tweeted.
📝 Final Word:
As tensions rise, the question remains: Who really governs Kampala? And more crucially, can public assets be converted into private wealth by executive fiat? Ugandans will be watching closely how this unfolds—and whether the rule of law will prevail over impunity.
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