By Musisi Lwanga
A selected parliamentary committee, appointed by Speaker Anita Annet Among to investigate issues surrounding the Nakivubo drainage channel, has met with businessman Hamis Kiggundu to discuss his development plans for this drainage channel.
This selected appointed committee were led by Hon. Dan Kimotho and David Kabanda with other member of parliament who inspected the ongoing works at the Nakivubo drainage channel.
Previously motions sparkled from different individual and politician concerning the re-development of Nakivubo Drainage Channel by Kampala business man Hajji Hamis Kiggundu.
This prompted parliament’s Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprise (COSASE) to start it’s investigations. However the speaker of parliament Annet Anita Among halts COSASE Probe into Nakivubo Channel Redevelopment.
Speaker, having suspended the investigations into the Nakivubo Channel re-development project that were being conducted by the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE). Instead, she has appointed a five-member parliamentary team to carry out a fact-finding mission on the same matter.
The directives was announced by COSASE Chairperson Hon. Medard Sseggona, who read details from a letter dated August 19, 2025.
In the letter, Speaker Among instructed Hon Dan Kimosho, Chairperson of the Physical Infrastructure Committee, to lead the newly constituted team. The other members include David Kabanda member of parliament Kasambya County, Peter Mugema member of parliament Iganga Municipality, Kibedi Nsegumira member of parliament Mityana North and Gerald Ibanda Rwemulikya member of parliament Ntoroko County.
Today, the appointed committee led by it’s Chairperson Hon Dan Kimotho, inspected the ongoing work’s at Nakivubo Drainage channel and gave a period of two weeks to submit thier findings.
Following the inspection, Hon Kimotho stated that the committee will engage with various stakeholders to gather their views on the ongoing re-development of Nakivubo Drainage Channel
However the committee has agreed and welcomed the idea of Nakivubo Drainage Channel re-development into city standards
Hajji Hamis Kiggundu who paved ways and approved to re-develop Nakivubo drainage channel by the president has appealed to Kampala residents to support his development initiatives, cautioning them against politicians who always oppose progress.
According to Haj Hamis kiggundu, Nakivubo drainage channel for over decades have been used in unlawful acts just like hiding thieves and an top of that floodings during rainy season and turns the city into a fishing pod
Speaking to various individuals working along Nakivubo Drainage Channels appreciate that the re-development and appealed the government always to stand with such local investors like Hajji Hamis Kiggundu.
Nakivubo Drainage Channel re-development comes shortly after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni expressed support for an ambitious proposal by entrepreneur Hamis Kiggundu aimed at revitalizing the Nakivubo Channel.
In a letter dated August 2, 2025, addressed to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, President Museveni lauded Kiggundu’s plan as both “imaginative and simple,” praising its potential to resolve long-standing issues of waste dumping and urban flooding.
“Ham points out the fact that the channel is open, inviting people to throw in rubbish, including plastics and faeces,” Museveni wrote.
“His proposal is imaginative and simple. Allow him to cover the channel after cleaning and strengthening it at his own cost. What a godly proposal!”
The President also backed Kiggundu’s plan to recoup his investment by constructing commercial properties above the renovated channel.
“How will he recover his money? Simple. Allow him to build properties above it that will bring back the money. I approve of the plan. Help him to execute,” Museveni directed.
Copies of the President’s endorsement were shared with the Vice President and the Ministers of Kampala, Finance, Education and Sports, the Presidency, and the Attorney General—indicating a high level of government support for the project.
For decades, the Nakivubo Channel has been a focal point for environmental degradation, unsanitary waste disposal, and frequent urban flooding. Kiggundu’s proposal seeks to resolve these issues by enclosing and upgrading the channel, while also enhancing the cityscape through the addition of modern commercial and leisure facilities.
A long-time advocate for transforming Kampala into a world-class commercial capital, Kiggundu continues to promote private sector-led innovation and infrastructure development. His Nakivubo Channel project is expected to align with the government’s broader urban modernization agenda.
