Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has attributed yesterday’s devastating floods in downtown Kampala to ongoing works on the Nakivubo drainage channel.
A mid-afternoon downpour turned the city centre into a river, submerging several arcades and shops in Nabukera, Qualicel, Totala Business Centre, Sekaziga, and Ham Arcades, as well as parts of the New Taxi Park.
Beyond the commercial heart, water also poured into the slums of Mengo, Kisenyi, and the densely packed Owino Market area, leaving homes and livelihoods in disarray. Ahamad Musoke, a clothes dealer at Nabukeera Arcade, said he lost merchandise worth Shs 2 million after his basement store flooded.
“The rain was relentless, and the flooding was catastrophic,” Musoke said. “We’ve had floods before, but this time the water rose so fast that we couldn’t save anything. It was like the city sank in minutes.”
At Qualicel Arcade, Suzanne Tukamushaba, who sells women’s wear, said one of her employees was injured while trying to rescue stock from the rising water.
“She was cut by sharp objects in the water,” Tukamushaba said. “Most of our clothes are ruined beyond repair — they’ll end up in the trash. I’m asking government to help us like they’ve helped flood victims in Bududa. We also need support.”
Edward Ntale, chairperson of the United Arcaders Entrepreneurs Association (UATEA), described the flooding as “a disaster for the business community,” saying over 400 traders, shop owners, and street vendors were affected.
“Many of our people will struggle to recover,” Ntale said. “This comes when traders are already battling rent hikes, high power tariffs, and endless taxes.”
Ntale blamed the ongoing Nakivubo Channel construction for blocking key drainage paths and accused KCCA of neglecting regular maintenance. However, KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine told URN that the flooding was largely due to ongoing engineering works on the Nakivubo Channel.
“We’ll get to the bottom of what caused this and find a lasting solution,” Nuwabine said, noting that a technical team will inspect the clogged sections that may have worsened the situation. He also pointed fingers at some landlords for failing to install proper stormwater systems.
“While development can bring temporary challenges, we assure the public the outcome will be worth it. For now, we urge caution as the rains persist,” he added. In August, businessman Hamis Kiggundu received government approval to modernize the Nakivubo Channel — a project President Museveni hailed as “imaginative and simple.”
The plan involves covering and upgrading the channel to tackle waste and flooding once and for all. But the project remains controversial. Street vendors and city leaders, including Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, have opposed it, calling the works “illegal.”
Kiggundu insists, however, that the modernization is part of a broader plan to revamp Kampala’s drainage network and integrate commercial infrastructure. As traders sweep muddy water out of their shops, frustration simmers — not just over lost goods, but over a city that seems to flood every time the clouds gather.
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