Traders Sue Tycoon Ham Kiggundu Over Nakivubo Channel Project

Updated by HICGI News Agency at 1559 EAT on Tuesday 4 November 2025

KAMPALA | Two traders’ associations have dragged city businessman Hamis Kiggundu, also known as Ham, to court over what they describe as illegal construction works along the Nakivubo Channel, accusing him of worsening floods in downtown Kampala.

The Kampala Arcaders Traders Association (KATA) and the UNATA Traders Association Uganda Limited filed the suit on Monday before the Civil Division of the High Court. The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) are also listed as respondents for allegedly failing to regulate and supervise the project.

Through their lawyers, Luzige, Lubega, Kavuma & Co. Advocates, the traders want the court to declare Kiggundu’s works and those of his company, Kiham Enterprises Ltd, unlawful. They are seeking a permanent injunction to halt construction, compensation for damages, and an order directing the removal of debris and obstructions from the drainage channel.

According to the traders, the project has exacerbated flooding in downtown Kampala, destroying goods and disrupting business in several arcades and plazas along Nabugabo Street, including French Plaza, Total Plaza, Jambole Plaza, Pentagon Arcade, Capital Arcade, 888 Plaza, BMK Plaza, Papaz Plaza, Shauriako, BBC Plaza, and Channel Street.

Presidential Endorsement Under Scrutiny

Court documents indicate that the dispute stems from a proposal Kiggundu submitted to President Yoweri Museveni on July 25, 2025, seeking permission to cover the Nakivubo Channel in a bid to improve sanitation and drainage.

The President reportedly approved the plan a month later in a letter to the Prime Minister, authorizing Kiggundu to undertake the works.

However, the traders argue that this presidential directive bypassed key environmental and urban planning approvals required from NEMA and KCCA, rendering the project illegal.

Traders Cite Negligence, Petition Parliament

The traders say they made several attempts to engage Kiggundu and his company, including site visits and written complaints about flooding and property damage, but their concerns went unaddressed.

They later petitioned Parliament, prompting the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) to meet KCCA officials on August 26, 2025, where the authority reportedly pledged to strengthen oversight.

“Despite numerous appeals and engagements, construction has continued without addressing our concerns,” reads part of the traders’ petition.

The petition emphasizes that their legal action is “not merely against a developer, but for the soul of Kampala’s future,” arguing that the city must strike a balance between urban development, environmental protection, and public safety.

KCCA, NEMA Blamed for Lax Oversight

The traders accuse NEMA and KCCA of gross negligence and failure to enforce regulations, saying their inaction has emboldened private developers to interfere with vital public drainage systems.

In response, KCCA issued a statement on Sunday attributing the recent flash floods in Kampala to unusually heavy rainfall, not construction activity.

The authority noted that while drainage upgrades in areas such as Soya–Bunga, Lubigi, Nakamiro, and Kibuli have improved water flow, blockages persist along Nakivubo Channel and around the Old Taxi Park, where several basement premises were submerged.

KCCA said its teams — working with the Uganda Police Force and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) — are currently clearing debris, draining water, and monitoring flood-prone areas.

Executive Director Hajjati Sharifah Buzeki urged residents to remain vigilant during the rainy season, avoid flood-prone routes, and report blocked drains for quick response.

Lukwago Calls for Prosecution

Meanwhile, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called for Kiggundu’s prosecution, accusing him of showing “blatant impunity” and a “reckless disregard for environmental and urban planning laws.”

“This is not just about money or property it’s about human safety and respect for public infrastructure,” Lukwago said, vowing to rally legal and political support for affected traders.

As of press time, Kiggundu had not yet been summoned to respond to the allegations. The case will be assigned to a judge once the preliminary filings are reviewed by the court.

Credit to The Observer.

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