By Our Reporter
Kampala, Uganda — The long-troubled Nakivubo Channel, once synonymous with flooding, pollution, and urban decay, is undergoing a historic transformation through a joint effort spearheaded by city businessman Dr. Hamis Kiggundu (Ham), the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and guided by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and African Nations Championship (CHAN) inspection teams.
For decades, the channel — slicing through the heart of Kampala’s central business district — has been an eyesore and a peril, claiming lives during heavy rains and threatening livelihoods with perennial floods. But in the build-up to Uganda’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, the project is gaining new urgency and visibility.
During their recent inspection tours, CAF officials lauded the pace and ambition of the redevelopment, underscoring that a resilient, internationally compliant drainage system is indispensable if Kampala is to host Africa’s premier football showpiece. Their technical recommendations have since been integrated into the redesign, ensuring the channel meets stringent environmental, infrastructural, and safety benchmarks.
KCCA has equally thrown its institutional muscle behind the effort, harmonizing the works with Kampala’s wider drainage masterplan. An official from the Authority described the project as a “watershed moment in public–private collaboration”, arguing it addresses not only tournament preparedness but also leaves a lasting urban legacy.
“This is not just about AFCON,” the official said. “It is about reimagining Kampala, eliminating long-standing vulnerabilities, and creating a safe, functional, and beautiful urban corridor for generations to come.”
At the financial helm of the venture is Hamis Kiggundu, whose investment underscores a rising wave of homegrown, self-driven development.
“Nakivubo Channel has for far too long symbolized floods, insecurity, and urban neglect,” Ham said. “This redevelopment is about restoring dignity to the city, safeguarding lives, and proving that Uganda can deliver world-class infrastructure by our own means. It’s a statement of both responsibility and readiness.”
When fully complete, the Nakivubo Channel will no longer exist as a hazardous open drain but as a showpiece of smart-city innovation — boasting underground flood-control chambers, solid waste filtration systems, landscaped pedestrian walkways, and eco-friendly green zones. The redesign envisions the channel as a multi-functional public space that blends utility with urban beauty, supporting commerce, tourism, and community life.
Urban analysts have hailed the project as a model of locally financed transformation, with Ham’s private-sector drive complementing KCCA’s technical stewardship and CAF’s international guidance. If delivered on schedule, the redevelopment is expected to stand as one of the flagship symbols of Kampala’s readiness for AFCON 2027 — and more importantly, as a turning point in the city’s fight against environmental hazards and urban dysfunction.
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