Kampala Capital City Authority has conceded that businessman Hamis Kiggundu's ambitious redevelopment of sections of the Nakivubo drainage channel, including associated commercial structures, commenced before securing full legal approvals. The revelation came during parliamentary testimony, exposing gaps in the authority's enforcement while highlighting ongoing tensions between rapid private investment and regulatory oversight in Uganda's capital.

KCCA Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi told lawmakers that construction began outside the formal approval process. He personally issued a stop notice, after which the developer underwent a National Environment Management Authority Environmental Impact Assessment and inter-agency reviews. Approvals were eventually granted but remained conditional, according to Kigenyi.

The project — part of broader efforts to upgrade Kampala's flood-prone drainage systems ahead of events like AFCON 2027 — envisions covering parts of the channel with reinforced slabs for commercial use, including shopping arcades, walkways, and green spaces, while aiming to improve water flow through desilting and engineering works.

Innovation or overreach? Hamis Kiggundu, through Ham Enterprises, has positioned the initiative as a privately funded solution to chronic flooding that has plagued Nakivubo for years. Critics, however, point to a pattern of alleged premature action, citing stop orders and enforcement notices in 2024-2025 over unauthorized hoarding, excavations, and demolitions near St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market, which drew accusations of trader displacement and clashes with figures like Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago.

KCCA's admission to Parliament signals some institutional self-reflection, yet conditional approvals suggest the project may proceed with mitigations. Key questions remain on enforcement consistency, compensation adequacy for displaced traders, ecological safeguards, and whether private gains justify alterations to vital public waterways. King Musah Media will continue tracking parliamentary outcomes and on-ground impacts.