Kampala, Uganda — City businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, has come out strongly in defence of his ongoing redevelopment of the Nakivubo Channel, describing it as a critical project for Kampala’s future and Uganda’s readiness to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The project has attracted sharp criticism, including threats of legal action from Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who has questioned both its legality and transparency. However, over the weekend, Kiggundu dismissed the pushback, insisting that the works are necessary for public health, safety, and national pride.
A Channel of Hazards and Insecurity
Kiggundu painted a grim picture of the drainage channel in its current state, calling it “a dark symbol of pollution, insecurity, and preventable tragedy.”
Running through the heart of Kampala’s busiest commercial area, the open channel has long been a dumping ground for sewage, industrial waste, and garbage — conditions that fuel flooding during heavy rains. Kiggundu further alleged that the trench has become a hotspot for crime and claimed it has caused “over 100 deaths in recent years.”
“This is not just an infrastructure project. It is about saving lives and protecting livelihoods,” he stressed.
AFCON Readiness at Stake
The businessman linked the redevelopment directly to Uganda’s continental ambitions. According to him, inspectors from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) lauded his state-of-the-art Hamz Stadium but flagged the open Nakivubo Channel as the “last major obstacle” to Uganda’s preparedness for AFCON 2027.
“No modern city can prosper with open sewers cutting through its center,” Kiggundu noted, positioning the redevelopment as a unifying national effort that transcends politics.
Development over Division
Lord Mayor Lukwago has labelled the project “fraudulent” and its backers “charlatans.” But in his statement, Kiggundu pushed back, framing the project as a demonstration of local initiative.
“Transformative change need not wait for foreign aid,” he argued. “This is a test of Uganda’s will to prioritise development over division, solutions over excuses.”
A Modern Urban Ecosystem
The redevelopment plan goes beyond covering the channel. It includes underground flood-control chambers, waste-filtration systems, environmentally protected green spaces, pedestrian walkways, and tissue banks.
Kiggundu envisions the transformation turning the area into a modern, functional urban ecosystem, one that will serve residents and showcase Kampala’s progress on the international stage.
From Neglect to Showcase
Kiggundu concluded with a bold promise: once completed, the channel will no longer be a symbol of neglect.
“It will become a showcase of what happens when vision meets action,” he said.
