Kampala, Uganda: Kampala City tycoon Hamis Kiggundu, alias Ham, has officially kicked off redevelopment works on the Nakivubo drainage channel with a large-scale cleanup operation aimed at restoring the city’s most vital flood artery.
On Monday, August 18, heavy machinery, trucks, and a workforce were deployed along the downstream section of the channel to dredge out heaps of waste, silt, and debris that have long clogged the waterway, worsening Kampala’s flooding and sanitation crises.
Ham, who is also spearheading the redevelopment of Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, said the operation marks the first step in a wider urban renewal project.
“This is not just about cleaning; it’s about preparing the foundation for lasting development,” Ham told reporters on site. “We are committed to working with relevant authorities to ensure that this project benefits the people and the city.”
According to project briefs, the redevelopment will see the drainage channel covered and modernized, service lanes constructed, water filtration chambers installed, and commercial spaces integrated above the infrastructure.
Urban planners argue the project could help address Kampala’s perennial flooding while also unlocking new commercial potential in the downtown area.
Photos and videos from the site show excavators dredging mounds of waste, crews hauling debris, and a cleared channel slowly taking shape, setting the stage for what Ham describes as a “new chapter” in Kampala’s cityscape.
