President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has thrown his support behind an ambitious proposal by entrepreneur Hamis Kiggundu aimed at revitalizing the Nakivubo Channel.
In a letter dated August 2, 2025, and addressed to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, Museveni praised Kiggundu’s plan as both “imaginative and simple,” noting its potential to address the chronic issues of waste dumping and flooding that plague the channel.
“Ham points out the fact that the channel is open, inviting people to throw in rubbish, including plastics and faeces,” Museveni wrote.
“His proposal is imaginative and simple. Allow him to cover the channel after cleaning and strengthening it at his own cost. What a godly proposal!”
The President further endorsed the developer’s strategy to recover his investment by constructing commercial buildings above the newly renovated channel.
“How will he recover his money? Simple. Allow him to build properties above it that will bring back the money. I approve of the plan. Help him to execute,” Museveni directed.
Copies of the approval were also shared with the Vice President, and the Ministers of Kampala, Finance, Education and Sports, the Presidency, and the Attorney General indicating a strong level of government endorsement for the project.
For decades, the Nakivubo Channel has been a hotspot for environmental degradation, unsanitary waste disposal, and urban flooding. Kiggundu’s plan seeks not only to solve these issues by enclosing and upgrading the channel but also to uplift the surrounding cityscape with modern commercial and leisure facilities.
Hamis Kiggundu, through his company Ham Enterprises, is already leading another major redevelopment the transformation of Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium into a modern, multi-purpose sports complex.
Kiggundu has long advocated for Kampala to evolve into a world-class commercial capital, driven by private sector innovation and infrastructure. His proposal for the Nakivubo Channel is expected to complement the government’s ongoing urban modernization efforts.
