By Robert Segawa
The Lord Mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, has demanded that the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the central government compensate victims of Monday’s floods in downtown Kampala, warning that legal action will be taken if they fail to do so.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Lukwago described the floods which destroyed property and disrupted businesses as a “man-made disaster”, and held both the developer of the Nakivubo Channel and various government agencies accountable.
“No one can claim they didn’t see this coming. We raised red flags. We sounded the alarm. What’s happening downtown is impunity in broad daylight,” Lukwago said.
He accused businessman Hamis Kiggundu, commonly known as Ham, of illegally constructing a commercial structure under the guise of drainage development, without approved plans or the necessary environmental permits.
“Ham doesn’t have approved plans. He’s building a commercial complex, not a drainage system. He illegally acquired that land and hasn’t secured a permit from NEMA. No environmental study has been conducted as required,” Lukwago noted.
He also criticized Parliament for failing to take timely action on the issue, accusing the Speaker and legislators of negligence.
“Parliament has not meaningfully engaged with KCCA on this matter. They should have investigated, produced a report, and recommended remedial action. Their inaction makes them equally culpable,” he said.
Lukwago condemned what he called the “acts of impunity” by Kiggundu, which he said directly led to the disaster that affected numerous businesses.
“We sympathize with the business community that lost merchandise, but it’s clear this was caused by sheer recklessness on the part of Ham and his associates along with certain actors within KCCA and the central government,” he added.
The Lord Mayor said he had formally asked KCCA to arrest and prosecute Kiggundu for ignoring orders to stop construction.
“If a notice was issued to halt his activities and he defied it, why hasn’t he been arrested? We are exploring legal avenues to ensure victims are compensated by both Ham and KCCA. If necessary, we will take the matter to court,” Lukwago warned.
He further urged Parliament to stop what he termed “pretend investigations” and take real action.
