Kampala traders demand action after floods ravage city arcades

4 November 2025, 10:58 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Following last week’s floods that devastated several arcades in the city centre, including Qualicel, Total, Sekaziga, Pentagon, and French, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago yesterday convened a meeting at City Hall with traders from the affected buildings to find a lasting solution. In attendance were KCCA executive director Sharifa Buzeki, her deputy Benon Kigenyi, Kampala Resident City Commissioner Lule Mawiya, and other officials.

The Lord Mayor invited traders to raise their concerns about the incident for record purposes. Mariam Burwada, one of the leaders in the affected arcades, said they almost lost everything to the floods and urged KCCA to help them get justice. Many traders at the meeting agreed that city developer Hamis Kiggundu should stop ongoing construction works, expressing fear that similar damage could occur if it rains again.

“We appeal to KCCA to direct Ham Enterprises to stop the ongoing construction. We also demand compensation from government through the Office of the Prime Minister, which handles disasters. We do not want any associations involved because they have not helped us. We also do not want Nabugabo to demand money from us since they did nothing to help when the incident occurred,” the traders said.

During the special council sitting chaired by Speaker Zahra Luyirika, executive director Sharifa Buzeki told councillors that KCCA had already written to the developer stopping construction since he had not met required conditions. “I asked him to apply for a lease because he had no ownership of 6.5 acres out of the total 48. We again wrote to him on 9th September 2025 saying his application was under process,” she said.

According to Speaker Luyirika, the council resolved that government should compensate the affected traders and that construction on the Nakivubo drainage channel be halted. She also said Hamis Kiggundu would be summoned for a hearing on the matter.

Meanwhile, a section of traders under the Kampala Traders’ Association, together with others, have dragged KCCA, NEMA, and Ham to court over the same issue. Court is yet to set hearing dates.

During the meeting with the Lord Mayor, traders were advised to compile a list of those affected, and two representatives from each arcade will liaise with KCCA director of gender, Sheilla, to record the damaged properties.

Today, the Prime Minister is expected to hold a meeting to discuss the same concerns. Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Hon. Minsa Kabanda, has been accused of directing the executive director to approve the developer’s plan before all requirements were fulfilled.