A report by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) City Executive Committee (CEC) led by the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, has revealed shocking details about city tycoon Hamis Kiggundu’s manipulation of the KCCA technical wing, which is responsible for the management of the city.
The report presented to the City Council on Thursday reveals how Ham’s illegal structures in Kampala city have blocked waterways, causing disastrous flooding.
The report comes just days after a heavy downpour in Kampala caused massive floods that claimed the lives of at least seven people.
Presenting the report before the Council, the Executive Secretary, Planning and Civil Works, Johnmary Ssebuwufu, said that one of the major challenges facing the drainage system in Kampala is the rampant encroachment on the drainage channels and wetlands, largely by city tycoons, particularly Ham Kiggundu.
He said that illegal constructions have obstructed major drainage paths, adding that wetlands, which serve as filtering grounds and catchment areas, have also been encroached upon for residential and commercial purposes, reducing their ability to absorb excess water.
He said that city tycoons, particularly Ham, have manipulated authorities to illegally acquire titles and put up illegal structures in water pathways.
“As CEC, we are extremely perturbed by the fact that some pseudo tycoons, through manipulation of government systems, acquired titles on some of the drainage channels in the city and have brazenly presented plans to construct giant structures in drainage corridors before KCCA for approval.
Almost the whole of the Nakivubo drainage channel is parceled up amongst city tycoons; the Lugogo wetland is now full of concrete and mortar; the golf course is faced with a real threat of extinction; and the whole stretch of the Lake Victoria shoreline from Portbell through Gaba, Munyonyo, and Kaazi to Kitubulu Entebbe is private property with mushrooming commercial complexes, etc.,” he said.
Amazingly, Ssebuwufu said that the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) decided to evict the poor and leave city tycoons, who he said are responsible for Kampala’s disastrous floods.
Ssebuwufu told the Council that in November 2024, CEC received shocking information of Ham Enterprises (U) Limited undertaking illegal constructions on Jugula Drainage Channel, a vital waterway feeding into the Nakivubo Primary drainage channel that occasioned a huge public uproar, particularly from the Catholic Church, which had already been given the green light by KCCA to construct a direct access to St. Balikuddembe and St. Anthanasius Catholic Shrine.
“The illegal constructions by Ham Enterprises (U) Limited on Jugula Channel blocked the direct access to the aforesaid church, yet as an International Heritage Tourist Site gazetted by UNESCO, the church on 3rd June 2025 (Martyrs Day) had plans of hosting pilgrims from Mwanza, Musoma, and Dares Salam, Tanzania, led by Mama Julius Nyerere, amongst others,” he said.
On November 11, 2024, KCCA issued an Enforcement Notice to Ham Enterprises (U) Limited, directing the developer to immediately halt construction activities on-site and submit a survey report and approved plans for the works being carried out within seven (7) days, of which failure to comply would result in prosecution and demolition of the unauthorized structure.
Furthermore, on November 14, 2024, the Ham Enterprises (U) Limited constructions on Jugula Channel were brought to the attention of the Building Committee by the Building Inspectors of the Kampala Central Division Urban Council. This prompted the Building Committee to conduct a site visit on November 15.
“Regrettably, members of the Building Committee led by both the Executive Secretary Planning & Civil Works and the Chairperson of the Building Committee were harassed, assaulted, insulted, and denied access to the site by Ham Construction’s goons who were manning the illegal construction site,” the report says.
The enforcement notice issued on November 11, 2024, halting civil works on the Jugula channel, was ignored by Ham Enterprises, asserting that their construction activities were based on previously approved plans by KCCA.
This prompted the Director of Physical Planning to issue yet another Physical Planning Enforcement Notice to Ham Enterprises (U) Limited on November 14, directing them to comply with the KCCA Enforcement Notice of November 11, 2024.
On November 17, 2024, a heavy downpour caused flooding in St. Balikuddembe Market, Nakivubo Settlement Primary School, and several other surrounding areas, leading to the loss of property and livelihood worth millions.
The disaster flagged the potential impact of the ongoing constructions on Jagula drainage. The Catholic Church, traders, local leaders, and members of the public rose up in arms again.
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