Lawmakers slam Kampala planners over drainage failures

KAMPALA - Lawmakers have criticised city authorities over what they describe as poor planning, arguing that while extensive road construction projects are underway to give Kampala a much-needed facelift, the drainage system remains largely neglected.

They warned that unless the drainage network is prioritised, the capital city’s flooding problems will persist for years.

The concern was raised on June 24, 2025, during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session attended by officials from the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, led by Undersecretary Monica Edemachu Ejua.

The session focused on scrutinising the Auditor General’s report on the ministry for the financial year ending December 2024.

Committee chairperson Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi accused the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) of putting the cart before the horse.

“I’m not a scientist, but if you construct roads without a master plan for drainage and rainwater management, these roads will not last. Which should have come first? You have put heavy money and equipment, doing all kinds of roads, yet there’s no drainage. So where is the water supposed to go?” Kivumbi asked.

He shared a personal anecdote to illustrate the consequences of poor planning:
“Do you know the net effect? Madam, I mobilised the community to work on a half-kilometre community road to our area. We brought our own murram, hired our own compressors, and mobilised neighbours. One lousy fellow, who contributed nothing, harvested water and channelled it straight into the road. Because of that, the road is split into two; one part this way and the other that way. The road is in Kira,” he said.

Delayed masterplan

Kivumbi also lamented the delayed implementation of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) Integrated Urban Development Master Plan.

The plan, developed by the Government of Uganda in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is intended to guide sustainable development across Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi. It prioritises infrastructure, physical planning, and environmental protection.

Undersecretary Monica Ejua expressed optimism about the plan’s eventual rollout but attributed the delays to recent legal reforms.

She explained that the dissolution of the Physical Planning Authority, part of the Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) reforms, had slowed progress. Its functions were transferred to the National Planning Authority (NPA).

“As we talk now, we have appeared before the Physical Planning Board in the National Planning Authority (NPA). They raised comments, which were addressed, and we are presenting the plan to Cabinet,” Ejua said.

Experts also noted that while KCCA had its own drainage master plan, implementation was hindered by overlapping jurisdictions in neighbouring areas.

For example, the Lubigi Channel is shared between KCCA and another authority, limiting KCCA’s ability to manage it fully.

Undersecretary Monica Ejua expressed optimism about the plan’s eventual rollout but attributed the delays to recent legal reforms. (Credit: Edith Namayanja)

Experts speak

Wilson Awuzu, a physical and urban planning specialist, explained: “If you look at section 18 of the Physical Planning Act, it outlines the various levels of physical planning, and that is where the confusion usually lies. We are supposed to have a physical plan at national level and regional levels. So far, we have three, and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Integrated Master Plan is one of them.”

He added: “Before the GKMA physical development plan came into existence, entities or local governments in this region had their own respective development plans which they were implementing in silos or isolation.”

MPs react

Mawogola South MP Gorett Namugga (NUP) questioned the purpose of a dedicated ministry for Kampala if its impact remains minimal.

“Can you also explain to the country, because for us we are senior six leavers and equivalent, what a drainage master plan is and what we suffer as a country when we don’t have one? Because the accounting officer’s submission looks casual…” Namugga said.

“No one can believe that Kampala, which has existed for so many years, can operate without a drainage and physical master plan. We have slums all over. Kampala is very messed up, and we can comfortably say, we have a ministry for Kampala,” she added.

Mubende Woman MP Hope Grania Nakazibwe (NRM) also raised concerns: “What do they base on to demolish people’s houses and structures if they don’t have a master plan?”

A physical plan typically outlines land use, designating areas for residential, commercial, recreational, and other purposes in a way that avoids or minimises conflict.

The committee directed the ministry to submit an update on the progress of the GKMA Integrated Urban Development Master Plan, including the challenges encountered so far.

“In my small life, I have interacted with some investors who have come here, been caught in terrible traffic jams, had their cars knocked by boda bodas, and then made the decision not to invest. Because Kampala looks like a disorderly, lawless, and disorganised city just by appearance,” Kivumbi added.

The ministry is currently grappling with a severe staffing shortage, with only 28 of its 50 positions filled. Lawmakers on PAC argue that without an official organogram, it is difficult to verify staffing requirements.