Lukwago calls for Ham’s arrest
The Lord Mayor of Kampala, Erias Lukwago, has issued a scathing call for authorities to arrest and prosecute businessman Hamis Kiggundu, widely known as Ham, for alleged illegal construction downtown that triggered a man-made disaster destroying businesses.
Speaking on Monday, Lukwago condemned Ham’s actions, describing the ongoing shutdowns and chaos in Kampala as “consequential shutdowns” caused by the businessman’s disregard for the law.
“Whatever he’s doing is illegal. There is no reason why we should acquiesce in these illegalities as an institution,” Lukwago said
The mayor explained that Ham ignored a notice issued in August 2025 ordering him to halt the project. “If we are to stamp out impunity, we must crack the whip. We must take on the bull by the horns, lest we fail to enforce the law against anyone,” he said.
Lukwago further revealed that KCCA and government agencies had failed in their duty to supervise the project, leaving victims uncompensated.
“The business community suffered wrong. They cannot go without remedy,” he warned, promising legal action if necessary to ensure compensation.
He also criticized Parliament and the so-called fact-finding team led by Daniel Kimosho, accusing them of “flirting around” with the issue and failing to take meaningful action. Lukwago noted that repeated invitations to Parliament for discussions on 17th September 2025 were ignored.
The Lord Mayor revealed that Ham had no permits from NEMA under the National Environment Act 2019 and had commenced construction without Environmental and Social Impact Assessment reports. Communications from NEMA, dated 22nd August 2025, went unanswered.
Lukwago warned that Ham’s work is not reconstructing the Nakivubo drainage channel, but is instead constructing a commercial complex atop a trust land and wetland, a clear violation of Article 237 of the Constitution and Section 45 of the Land Act.
“This is impunity in broad daylight. HAM has alienated land meant for ecological purposes, putting the public at risk,” Lukwago stated. He accused some KCCA officials and state actors of complicity, arguing that the disaster was foreseeable, especially during the recent torrential rains.
Lukwago demanded immediate action against Ham and remedial measures for affected traders. He insisted that regulatory approvals must be secured for any development, and that failure to enforce the law against Ham sets a dangerous precedent for impunity in Kampala.
Lukwago calls for Ham’s arrest
The Lord Mayor reiterated that KCCA, government agencies, and Parliament must act decisively to prevent further environmental destruction and protect public trust lands.
The Shs 180 billion ($50 million) plan to redevelop Kampala’s historic Nakivubo Channel has ignited intense controversy, pitting President Museveni’s government and businessman Hamis Kiggundu against city leaders, environmentalists, and sections of the public.
The project, personally approved by President Museveni in August 2025, seeks to transform the nine-kilometer drainage channel,long plagued by flooding, pollution, and crime into a covered, modern urban corridor topped with malls, offices, and other commercial structures. Museveni praised Kiggundu’s proposal as “imaginative and godly,” directing top ministries and KCCA to support it.
However, critics argue the project bypassed legal and environmental requirements, including NEMA approval and competitive procurement. Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has called it a “midnight land grab” that violates the 2016 city master plan.
Nakivubo, which carries stormwater from Makerere Hill to Lake Victoria, has been a drainage priority for decades but suffered from poor maintenance and urban encroachment. Previous refurbishment efforts funded by the World Bank and others failed to solve persistent flooding.
Kiggundu insists his plan will reduce pollution, improve drainage, and create jobs while linking with his Nakivubo Stadium redevelopment ahead of Uganda’s AFCON 2027 hosting. Yet environmentalists and city officials remain wary, warning that covering the channel could worsen flooding.
Despite KCCA’s halt order, construction continues under police protection, symbolizing a growing clash between presidential power and institutional oversight in Kampala’s urban development.
