Kampala, Uganda – The scheduled meeting between the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) and officials from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has collapsed following a directive from Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among halting COSASE’s probe into the controversial redevelopment of Nakivubo Channel.
COSASE chairperson Hon. Medard Lubega Ssegona announced the adjournment today, explaining that the Speaker had directed the matter be transferred to a select panel under the Physical Infrastructure Committee.
“As COSASE, we respect the directive of the Speaker. The responsibility for handling issues around the Nakivubo Channel redevelopment lies elsewhere,” Ssegona stated after the sitting was suspended.
According to a letter from Parliament, the issue of Nakivubo Channel’s development by KIHAM Enterprises, owned by businessman Hamis Kiggundu, is now being handled by a five-member panel under the Physical Infrastructure Committee.
Nakivubo Channel, Kampala’s largest drainage system, has been at the center of controversy amid allegations of irregular approvals, mismanagement of funds, and worsening flooding in city suburbs. COSASE inquiry was expected to examine KCCA’s role in the redevelopment project, particularly in light of claims that councillors had approved construction plans on the channel.
The decision to reassign the probe has divided opinion within Parliament. Some lawmakers argue that the Physical Infrastructure Committee has the technical expertise to oversee the matter, while others fear that shifting jurisdiction could weaken accountability.
With both COSASE and KCCA officials sidelined from immediate discussions, the fate of the Nakivubo Channel probe now rests with the new select panel, whose findings are expected to shape public trust in Kampala’s drainage management and urban planning.
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