Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has blasted opposition MPs, city councillors, and government agencies for remaining silent as traders across the city continue to face demolitions and financial losses. Speaking at City Hall on Monday, Lukwago said that key institutions including NEMA, the National Planning Authority, the National Building Review Board, and even Parliament, have […]
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has blasted opposition MPs, city councillors, and government agencies for remaining silent as traders across the city continue to face demolitions and financial losses.
Speaking at City Hall on Monday, Lukwago said that key institutions including NEMA, the National Planning Authority, the National Building Review Board, and even Parliament, have failed to protect traders from ongoing property destruction. He said the ten MPs representing Kampala and local councillors have remained particularly silent, despite repeated pleas for intervention.
“The criminal activities continue unabated, and what bothers me is the conspiracy of silence from all the key stakeholders in this country,” Lukwago said.
He warned that the continued silence is allowing wrongdoers to operate with impunity.
The MPs, 10 MPs from Kampala all quiet, all the councillors quiet. Hey, what is going on in the city when one man is wreaking havoc from Nakivuubo Stadium to Jagula drainage channel to Nakivuubo Channel, now to St. Balikudembe, he is moving on to Nakivuubo settlement, and so on and so forth,” he said
He demanded that Kigundu be arrested, prosecuted, and made to compensate victims.
“He can afford to attack, to attack St. Balikuddembe at night, demolish it without a demolition permit. What is it that should be done? Number one, Hamis Kiggundu should be arrested and prosecuted.” he stated
Traders operating in St. Balikuddembe Market (Owino Market) have appealed to Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to intervene following the demolition of several shops that left many traders counting losses.
The traders say their property was destroyed and merchandise taken during the incident, which occurred under unclear circumstances, leaving many of them confused about who authorised the operation.
Some of the affected traders claim that city businessman Hamis Kiggundu, commonly known as Ham, may have information about what happened on the night their structures were brought down.
The traders are now calling on the President to intervene and ensure accountability while also protecting their livelihoods.
A section of Owino Market was demolished overnight on the night of Saturday, 7 March 2026, at around 10:00 p.m. by unidentified individuals who used heavy machinery, including excavators, to tear down a structure forming part of the market. The demolition took place along Sebana Road, at the boundary of the Nakivubo Channel, a busy area of Kampala’s downtown where many traders operate.
However, authorities at the Kampala Capital City Authority say investigations are ongoing to establish who led the operation. KCCA condemned the action as unauthorised and reckless, saying the persons responsible had no demolition permit from the city authority a legal requirement for any such work on public infrastructure.
KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabiine confirmed that some suspects connected to the break-in have already been arrested as the probe continues. He said the city authority is working to identify those believed to have led the incident on Saturday night.
KCCA stated that it had not approved any demolition at the site and quickly moved to assess the damage and salvage what remains of the structure after the incident.
Meanwhile Lukwago presented a report detailing the extent of damage caused to traders during flash floods on October 30-31, 2025. The report shows 451 traders affected, nine buildings damaged, and losses totaling Shs 23.4 billion. Four buildings suffered severe damage while five were moderately affected. The report also details the primary tenants (324) and subtenants (127) impacted, with affected arcades including Pentagon, Juba, Nana, and Jesko.
Despite submitting the report to the Prime Minister’s office and subsequent follow-ups, no compensation has been paid to date. Lukwago warned that the cycle of impunity cannot continue while Kigundu profits from rent collection and traders remain uncompensated.
“This time, action must be taken. Kiggundu must be prosecuted and made to pay the business community for the losses he has caused. Otherwise, the cycle of destruction will continue,” Lukwago said
He insisted that decisive measures are needed to restore law and order and protect the livelihoods of Kampala’s traders.
Heavy rainfall on October 31, 2025 caused severe flash floods in downtown Kampala, especially around the Nakivubo Channel. Water flooded basements and shops in several arcades including Nabukeera Plaza, Freedom Center, Pentagon City Plaza, Nana Center, and others, destroying merchandise worth billions of shillings such as clothes, electronics, and bedding. At least three people died. The floods were partly blamed on construction works along the Nakivubo Channel which narrowed drainage paths.
In response, Robinah Nabbanja visited the affected areas on November 4, 2025 following a directive from Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to assess the damage and support traders. Later on December 16, 2025, President Museveni met trader leaders led by John Kabanda and directed government to compensate the victims.
By early 2026, 454 traders had been verified for compensation totaling about Shs 23.43 billion, although disputes emerged with some trader groups claiming over 1,000 traders were affected. Many traders also reported delays in receiving compensation.
Fresh floods again hit Kampala on March 6, 2026, destroying more merchandise in the same areas. Following the repeated damage and delayed compensation, traders are now planning a protest march on March 25, 2026 to demand government action, despite cleanup operations by city authorities.
