The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has announced a temporary closure of Allen Road and Ssebaana Road starting Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 9:00 p.m., to Monday, November 10, 2025. The closure will allow major drainage improvement works along the Nakivubo Channel aimed at easing stormwater flow and curbing the frequent flash floods that have long troubled Kampala.
According to KCCA, the intervention is part of an ongoing effort to make the city more flood-resilient, especially after recent heavy downpours left many traders in downtown Kampala counting losses. Several shops along Allen, Kafumbe Mukasa, and Ben Kiwanuka Streets were submerged, destroying merchandise worth millions.
“This project is necessary. The recent floods showed us how vulnerable this area is,” a KCCA official said. “Once completed, these works will improve stormwater flow into the Nakivubo Channel and reduce the flooding that has been frustrating traders and motorists every rainy season.”
For years, flooding has remained one of Kampala’s biggest challenges whenever it rains, with the downtown area — especially around Nakivubo Channel — turning into a temporary river. The problem has often been blamed on poor drainage and encroachment on water channels.
Traders in the affected areas have welcomed the move but also expressed concern over the temporary inconvenience.
“We have suffered enough,” said Moses Kato, a shop owner along Allen Road. “Every time it rains, our shops flood. If this repair will stop that, we are ready to endure the few days of closure.”
KCCA advised motorists from Ben Kiwanuka Street to use Burton Street, William Street, or Wilson Road as alternative routes. Other suggested roads include Kafumbe Mukasa, Martin, Ssemugooma, and Mwanga II Roads. The Authority has also urged all road users to follow safety signs and guidance from traffic marshals during the works.
“We call for patience and cooperation from the public as we carry out these essential improvements,” the statement added. “Any inconvenience caused is highly regretted, but this is a step towards making Kampala a safer and flood-resilient city.”
With the rainy season still ongoing, KCCA hopes that the current drainage rehabilitation will prevent a repeat of the devastating floods that have become all too familiar in the heart of Kampala.
