Kampala, Uganda – City businessman Hamis Kiggundu has launched a large-scale cleanup of the Nakivubo drainage channel, setting in motion preparatory works for a redevelopment project that promises to reshape downtown Kampala.
Excavators, trucks and teams of workers were yesterday deployed along the channel’s downstream section to clear tons of garbage, silt and debris that have long clogged the waterway. The operation, which drew public attention, is the first visible step in efforts to modernise one of the capital’s most critical drainage corridors.
Mr Kiggundu, widely known as Ham, said the cleanup is a foundation for bigger works expected to follow.
“This is not just about cleaning; it’s about preparing the ground for lasting development,” he noted. “We are working closely with authorities to ensure this project delivers real benefits to the city and its people.”
The businessman, who is also behind the ongoing redevelopment of Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, has pledged to overhaul the channel by covering and upgrading its structure, creating service lanes, installing modern water treatment features, and incorporating commercial infrastructure.
For decades, the Nakivubo Channel has been a source of public concern due to frequent flooding, foul waste discharge, and poor sanitation.
City dwellers have often blamed the clogged drainage for paralyzing traffic and damaging property during rainy seasons.
By integrating flood control measures with urban renewal, Mr Kiggundu’s initiative is expected to ease drainage problems while also redefining the aesthetics of Kampala’s central business district.
Videos and photographs captured during the launch show dredging works underway, heaps of collected waste piled along the banks, and dozens of workers engaged in clearing operations — a scene that city authorities say marks the beginning of a long-overdue transformation.
