Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has ordered businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, to immediately halt construction on his highly publicized Nakivubo Channel redevelopment, following revelations that the project began without meeting legal and planning requirements. The move has sent shockwaves through Kampala’s development circles, especially after the works, which were reportedly approved by President Museveni, were found to be contributing to severe flooding across the city’s central business district.

In a letter dated November 3 and signed by KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki, the Authority directed Ham’s company, Kiham Enterprises, to suspend all ongoing works on the Nakivubo Channel until all planning conditions are met. The directive came after technical teams found that the ongoing construction was interfering with the city’s primary drainage system, worsening flooding and causing widespread disruption in downtown Kampala. The order followed weeks of growing public anger and political tension over what Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago had earlier described as a “midnight land grab” when bulldozers first appeared on the site.

Ham had previously unveiled an ambitious plan for the Nakivubo Mews and surrounding streets, complete with slick computer-generated designs that promised to transform the area into a modern commercial hub. The futuristic renderings had initially won over many skeptics, painting the businessman as a visionary investor revamping downtown Kampala’s infrastructure. But as the heavy rains hit the city late last month, the situation dramatically changed. Roads around Nakivubo Channel, including Sebaana and Allen Roads, turned into rivers after only a few hours of rainfall, leaving traders and commuters stranded.

The flooding prompted KCCA to launch a technical inspection, which revealed that the construction activities around the channel had contributed significantly to the disaster. The inspection report pointed to blocked stormwater outlets, poorly managed construction debris, and makeshift timber and concrete structures that slowed down the flow of water through the channel. “The vertical formwork under reinforced concrete bridge slabs has worsened the situation by slowing stormwater flow and trapping garbage,” Buzeki noted in her letter, emphasizing that the flooding seen after October 31 had not occurred during earlier rains in mid-October.

Nakivubo Channel serves as one of Kampala’s most vital drainage arteries, channeling stormwater from several city neighborhoods, including the central business district, into Lake Victoria. Its obstruction poses a major environmental and public safety threat to the capital. In her letter, Buzeki instructed Kiham Enterprises to not only stop construction but also to immediately remove all obstructions in the channel, clear accumulated debris, and reopen drainage inlets along Sebaana and Allen Roads to restore normal water flow. She further ordered the company to prepare a formal Project Management Plan with KCCA before any further construction resumes.

Environmentalists and urban planners have voiced outrage at how the Nakivubo project was allowed to proceed without an environmental impact assessment or clear documentation of its compliance with planning laws. Many have questioned how a project of such magnitude could bypass the statutory process while having direct approval from the President. Critics argue that tampering with the city’s natural drainage system without technical oversight not only risks worsening flooding but could also cause long-term damage to Kampala’s fragile urban ecosystem.

To ensure compliance and prevent further environmental damage, KCCA has assigned a monitoring team led by Eng. Maurice Kairania, along with a team of supervisors and an environmental officer. Their task is to oversee Kiham Enterprises’ work, verify adherence to the Authority’s directives, and submit routine progress reports to the Executive Director’s office. “The team will oversee the work of your team, prepare and submit routine progress updates indicating the level of compliance,” the letter stated.

The halt order has now turned into a full-blown political controversy. With most KCCA councillors allied to the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), the development has sparked accusations of political maneuvering and raised questions about accountability in Kampala’s urban planning. Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, one of the project’s earliest critics, said the flooding had vindicated his warnings about “illegal land grabs disguised as redevelopment.” He vowed to continue monitoring the situation, saying the Nakivubo Channel is too important to be turned into what he called “a private playground for the powerful.”