Kampala — The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) council meeting convened to resolve the ongoing Nakivubo Channel impasse collapsed on Monday, with some councillors citing safety concerns over the alleged presence of “goons” in the council chambers.
The meeting comes amid rising allegations that councillors had approved businessman Hamis Kiggundu’s proposed developments along the drainage channel—a claim later denied by KCCA.
The standoff centers on councillors’ demand that Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago withdraw his earlier statement suggesting the council had agreed to sell the Nakivubo Channel to Kiggundu.
Lukwago declined, referencing the April 3, 2025 council sitting, where members resolved that KCCA should partner with credible local investors to upgrade the city’s drainage system due to reduced funding from the central government and donors.
Authority Speaker Zahrah Luyirika clarified that no advertisements or approvals have been issued to any developer, dismissing claims that Kiggundu had been granted rights to construct along the channel.
Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi added that the Physical Planning Committee is still reviewing the matter and no final decision has been reached.
The Nakivubo drainage channel stretches over nine kilometers and covers 72 acres across Kampala, serving as a critical component of the city’s drainage infrastructure.
(Nile post)
