By Our Reporter
Kampala’s most notorious drainage menace, the Nakivubo Channel, is being reborn into a world-class urban corridor under the visionary leadership and private financing of celebrated businessman Dr. Hamis Kiggundu (Ham).
For decades, the channel — cutting through the heart of the central business district — embodied flooding, filth, and danger. It swallowed lives during storms, displaced businesses, and mocked the city’s growth. Now, thanks to Ham’s bold investment and determination, it is being transformed into a modern, eco-friendly showcase that will define Kampala’s readiness for AFCON 2027 and beyond.
Inspection missions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the CHAN evaluation teams have already applauded the project’s speed and sophistication, emphasizing its critical role in Uganda’s ability to host Africa’s biggest football competition. Their technical guidance has been incorporated into the design — but it is Ham’s financial muscle and relentless drive that have given the project life.
The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has also aligned itself with the redevelopment, offering technical oversight within the city’s drainage masterplan. Yet even city officials concede that this milestone could not have materialized without Ham’s decisive intervention.
“This collaboration shows what becomes possible when visionary private leadership meets institutional support,” a KCCA official noted. “Ham’s contribution is rewriting Kampala’s urban future.”
For Ham, the project is both patriotic duty and civic mission.
“Nakivubo Channel has long been a symbol of floods, insecurity, and loss. It was a scar on our city,” Ham said. “This redevelopment is about giving Kampala dignity, protecting lives, and showing that Ugandans can build to international standards with our own hands and resources. It is a gift to our people and a legacy for our nation.”
Once complete, the Nakivubo Channel will no longer be a hazard but a landmark of modern African city planning — featuring underground flood-control chambers, waste-filtration systems, landscaped walkways, and green public spaces. Instead of shame, it will inspire pride, serving commerce, tourism, and daily community life.
Urban analysts are already hailing Ham’s initiative as a paradigm of self-driven African development — a project conceived, funded, and delivered without dependence on foreign aid. With Ham at the helm, Nakivubo’s resurrection is poised to stand as Kampala’s boldest symbol of transformation and Uganda’s resounding declaration of readiness for AFCON 2027.