Lukwago blocked from meeting NEMA boss over Nakivubo Channel

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Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has been blocked from meeting the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) executive director (ED), Dr. Barirega Akankwasa.

Lukwago wanted to meet Akankwasa in the latter's office on Friday (August 22) over property tycoon Hamis Kiggundu's construction works on Nakivubo Drainage Channel, which Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has halted.

"I want to go just myself to see the executive director. I head an institution; he heads an institution..." the Lord Mayor told NEMA security officers as he stood in the doorway requesting to go in. 

However, his requests fell on deaf ears of the security officers. 

"You don't have appointment; we have a board of directors meeting and the ED is the secretary to that meeting. The ED is not in a position to come out," one of the security officers told Lukwago as others stood guard over the door.

Lukwago was asked to go back to his office at City Hall and plan another day to make an appointment with the NEMA boss. 

As he was moving to the NEMA head offices in Kampala, the KCCA technical wing was meeting Kiggundu, who owns Kiham Enterpries Ltd, the company undertaking activities along Nakivubo Channel.

"We instructed him to halt all activities that are ongoing without the requisite statutory guidance and permission," KCCA said in a brief statement on X, formerly Twitter, after the meeting at City Hall.

The statement added: "Under the guidance and supervision of KCCA, the developer is to remove all debris in the channel as a result of his actions, ensure proper flow of storm water and the hoarded section is maintained to avoid any danger to human life and flooding in the area."

Kiggundu had started cordoning off parts of the channel, which is among the major drainages in the city.

This prompted Lukwago to hold a press conference, during which he said he had petitioned the Inspectorate of Government (IG) to halt the construction works.

“The Constitution that establishes the office of IG and the Act give it overarching powers to make some quick interventions. So, we have asked the IG to evoke those particular provisions and issue an order for the removal of those mabati (iron sheets),” he told the media in Kampala on August 18.

The Lord Mayor, who was flanked by some members of his political wing, said they had already sent their letter to the IG.

He also said they had written to Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi to help them bring the matter to the attention of Parliament and call for immediate action against Ham and his team.

“This is a matter of national importance because we are talking about the capital city and public property for which we have authority as custodians.  There is no free land in Kampala,” Lukwago emphasised.

The move by Ham to start cordoning off the channel on August 16, 2025, under tight security sparked off protests from some vendors, politicians and environmentalists.

When contacted over the matter, Kiggundu, the director of Ham Enterprises, told New Vision Online that he intends to transform the area from a criminal hub to a thriving business centre.

“Nakivubo had turned into a criminal hideout and a dumping site for all sorts of garbage. On top of that, as advised by Confederation of African Football officials, Nakivubo Stadium, in its current state, cannot host international events with an open drainage channel around it,” he was quoted by the New Vision newspaper as saying recently.