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The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Council has formally approved a resolution to partner with competent local investors to rehabilitate, cover, and upgrade the city’s ageing drainage systems.
Passed during a tense council sitting on 3 April 2025, the move is a shift towards private sector collaboration to combat Kampala’s long-standing flood problems.
The decision has been deemed by observers as a repudiation of Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who recently accused prominent businessman Dr Hajji Hamis Kiggundu and former Acting Executive Director Frank Nyakana Rusa of playing a role in the devastating floods that crippled parts of the capital in March.
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Lukwago had alleged that Kiggundu illegally reconstructed the Jugula drainage channel near Nakivubo and called for Rusa’s interdiction from his role as Director of Legal Affairs, claiming he supported the works during his time as acting ED (Sept–Dec 2024).
Council Dismisses Allegations as Politically Motivated
KCCA councillors, however, dismissed Lukwago’s claims, branding them politically charged, malicious, and legally flawed.
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Official records presented during the session revealed that Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd., Kiggundu’s company, had submitted all necessary construction plans, which were lawfully approved by KCCA on 9 December 2024.
Additionally, the KCCA Magistrate Court had dismissed the charges Lukwago referred to on 14 January 2025, noting that the case was wrongly filed against Kiggundu personally rather than his company—contradicting the legal principle of limited liability.
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Councillors lambasted Lukwago for prioritising personal vendettas over evidence-based leadership.
They argued that the root cause of flooding lies in years of infrastructural neglect, poor waste management, and the absence of modern drainage systems, rather than the contributions of developers like Ham Enterprises, whose work around Nakivubo had successfully prevented flooding in that area.
Praise for Rusa and a Call for Practical Leadership
In a dramatic turn, the council commended Frank Rusa for his leadership, presenting him with a Certificate of Appreciation inscribed with: “We appreciate your noble service for the Capital City (Kampala) as Acting E.D.”
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The gesture was met with applause, and photos of Rusa receiving the award quickly circulated online, featuring the Ugandan and KCCA flags.
The council unanimously agreed that future efforts to fix Kampala’s drainage woes must involve credible private partners under proper KCCA supervision.
Members also highlighted the urgent need to modernise the city’s drainage, drawing comparisons with developed cities that use underground systems, as opposed to Kampala’s outdated open channels, which frequently clog with solid waste.
Councillors warned against politicising development projects and urged government agencies to support, not sabotage, local investors committed to solving real urban problems. They reaffirmed that KCCA’s focus must remain on delivering services to all residents, free from political bias.
In the end, the events of 3 April signalled a clear shift. While Lukwago entered the session aiming to discredit others, he left with his political standing dented, as the council rallied around progressive action over blame.