Flood-affected Kampala traders demand release of Shs20 billion compensation

14 August 2026, 10:59 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Flood-affected traders operating in arcades in Kampala have threatened to mobilise and go to State House to meet President Yoweri Museveni if the government fails to release the 20 billion shillings compensation he approved for them.

The traders were affected by floods that hit Kampala in October, leaving many of them with losses running into millions of shillings.

The compensation was confirmed by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja after the affected traders appealed to the President through their leaders for assistance.

However, the traders say they are tired of waiting for the money, despite reports that the President had already approved and signed for its release.

Speaking at a press conference in Kampala yesterday, the traders said they are planning to mobilise all the affected traders and go to State House because they feel their leaders have abandoned them.

The traders said they have been given September 15 as the deadline for the government to release the money.

“September 15 is the deadline. We are planning to go to State House and meet the President to give us our money. We love the President and we believe that is one of the reasons that triggered him to compensate us. But since the money was approved by the President to be given to us, we have never received a single penny,” the traders said.

They added that the delays have caused them severe financial difficulties, with some unable to pay their children’s school fees.

“Our children are being chased out of school because we are unable to pay school fees. We once again appeal to the authorities who are supposed to release our compensation to please do so. We don’t want to be seen as a problem. We love this country, but what we are going through is beyond us,” they said.

The Office of the Prime Minister, which is responsible for the release of the funds, has reportedly raised concerns over the number of traders listed to benefit from the compensation.

According to the office, more than 2,000 people were initially listed, yet verification showed that fewer than 800 traders were affected by the floods.

The traders were therefore asked to correct the list before the funds can be released.

The traders’ concerns come after several appeals by the President of the Federation of Uganda Traders’ Associations, FUTA, John Kabanda, for government to compensate the affected traders.

During a meeting with the Kampala Resident City Commissioner, Lule Mawuya, the traders were reportedly promised that they would receive the money within one month. However, the promised period has already elapsed without the traders receiving the compensation.