By Fortunate Akankunda
Africa-Press – Uganda. The recent heavy rains in Kampala, as detailed in the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) public notice of November 2nd, have once again brought the issue of flooding into sharp focus. While KCCA reported that several previously improved areas handled runoff well, flash floods affected parts of Kyambogo, the Old Taxi Park, and notably, the Nakivubo Channel.
In the wake of such events, the public discourse often quickly turns to assigning blame. However, as a concerned citizen, pointing fingers at individual entities, such as Ham, the developer of the new Nakivubo project, misses the larger picture.
The Nakivubo project is a significant development for our city and country, one that should be appreciated for its potential to transform the area. The challenge of flooding is not a result of one project, but a complex urban planning issue that demands a united front.
We have a clear example of how engineering can triumph over flooding. Let us recall the persistent flooding that usually happened at the Queens Way area.
The construction of the flyover, a project by the Japanese, did not just ease traffic; its engineers planned for water flow, and as a result, the flooding that once characterized that area is now a distant memory. This success story proves that with proper foresight and expert design, solutions are possible.
Furthermore, the recent destruction of the Mukwano Arcade, while part of urban redevelopment, has also changed the landscape. That structure once acted as a windbreak and its foundations played a role in managing surface runoff. Its removal has created a more open space, changing how water flows and accumulates, a factor that must be considered in the current situation.
Therefore, I urgently call upon KCCA, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and the developers at Ham to move beyond public disagreements and convene an emergency technical summit. The goal should not be to determine who is at fault, but to collectively find out what is at fault and how to fix it.
Ham’s engineers should present their drainage plans for the new development. KCCA and NEMA should provide the historical data and city-wide water flow models for the Nakivubo catchment area. Teams from all three bodies should physically inspect the site together to identify current blockages, capacity issues, and points of failure.
In conclusion, the Nakivubo flooding is a symptom of a growing city’s challenges where business people have lost a lot of goods being soaked in a pool of water and yet some of them have used loans to start business. It is a test of our ability to collaborate. Let us support the development that pushes Kampala forward while insisting on the intelligent planning that ensures its resilience.
Blaming Ham alone is shortsighted; just as relying solely on KCCA to fix a problem that is making matters worse by changing city dynamics is unfair.
The successful flyover at Queens Way shows us the way: plan ahead, engineer wisely, and build for the future. Let our leaders in KCCA, NEMA, and the private sector like Ham come together, pool their expertise, and give us a lasting solution we can all be proud of.
The people of Kampala deserve a safe, modern, and flood-resilient city.
A Third Year Student at Cavendish University Uganda
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