KCCA PLEDGES LASTING SOLUTIONS FOR FLOOD-HIT ARCADES

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has pledged to work with affected traders to restore their livelihoods and put in place lasting measures to prevent future flooding in the city’s business hubs.

The pledge was made during a meeting convened by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and held in the Mayor’s Parlour at City Hall on Monday, following last week’s floods that devastated several arcades in the city centre.

The floods, which occurred on October 31, heavily affected Freedom Center, Pentagon City Plaza, Capital Center, French Plaza, Nabukeera Plaza, Premier Center, Nana Center, Sekaziga, and Total Plaza, leaving traders counting losses after their shops were submerged.

Lord Mayor Lukwago commended the traders for their calm response to the disaster and assured them that the government, through KCCA, will ensure their recovery.

“We deeply feel the pain our traders are going through. Many have lost their entire stock and livelihood in just a few hours,” he said. “I want to assure you that we are working hand in hand to ensure that every affected trader is supported and that such a tragedy does not happen again.”

The meeting resolved that each affected arcade submit two representatives to work with KCCA’s technical team to register all affected traders for government intervention. The process will be coordinated by Sheilah Burungi, KCCA’s Director of Gender, Production and Community Services.

“Each affected arcade will submit two representatives and a verified list of traders,” Lukwago explained. “This will help us coordinate effectively, and capture genuine cases for government support.”

KCCA Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki apologised to the traders for not visiting immediately after the disaster but assured them that the Authority is taking concrete action to prevent a recurrence.

“We are investigating what caused the flooding, whether it came from the ongoing drainage construction by Ham Enterprises or other factors and we shall take corrective action,” Buzeki said. “KCCA is working with government and political leaders to ensure this never happens again, and see how affected traders will be supported.”

Buzeki reaffirmed that KCCA is prioritising long-term solutions, including improved drainage planning, stricter building compliance, and close collaboration with developers and traders.

“Our goal is to build a flood-resilient city that is safe, vibrant, and better prepared for future challenges,” she emphasized.

KCCA’s Deputy Director for Roads and Drainage, Eng. Maurice Kerania, said six water extraction pumps were deployed to drain the affected buildings, restoring normalcy by the weekend.

“As KCCA, we feel your pain. We are committed to ensuring there’s no repeat of such flooding here. Our technical team will work with all stakeholders to strengthen drainage systems and prevent future occurrences,” Eng. Kerania added.

Representatives from the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), led by Mwanje Asuman, called for KCCA to halt ongoing renovation works by Ham Enterprises until a full inspection is completed. Kampala RCC Lule Mawiya also attended the meeting and pledged the government’s support.

By Geofrey Mutegeki Araali

Communication and Media Relations Officer