The African Initiative on Food Security and Environment (AIFE Uganda) has called on civil society organizations (CSOs), activists, and concerned citizens to unite in the #SaveNakivubo campaign to protect Kampala’s Nakivubo Channel, a critical 14-km urban wetland and drainage system.
This lifeline, managing over 50% of the city’s stormwater, faces an existential threat from unauthorized commercial construction led by Kiham Enterprises.
Without full regulatory approvals, including environmental impact assessments, this development risks catastrophic flooding, environmental degradation, and the erosion of public trust, violating Uganda’s Constitution under the public trust doctrine.
The Nakivubo Channel, rehabilitated in 1999 with a $19.15 million World Bank loan, is essential for flood prevention and biodiversity in Kampala’s five divisions.
Yet, since August 2025, construction of commercial buildings atop the channel has proceeded, spurred by a presidential directive praising the project. The consequences are already devastating.
On October 7, 2025, heavy rains flooded downtown Kampala, submerging markets like Owino, arcades, and bus terminals, crippling traders’ livelihoods. We attribute these floods to construction related blockages, a warning we issued months ago.
“We foresaw this disaster,” says AIFE Uganda’s Executive Director, Mr. Atuheire Brian. “Privatizing Nakivubo Channel is not just an environmental crime; it’s a betrayal of Kampala’s people, whose lives and livelihoods depend on this public asset.
“The #SaveNakivubo campaign is a clarion call for collective action. The channel’s privatization threatens human rights, exacerbates climate vulnerability, and sets a dangerous precedent for unchecked urban development.
AIFE Uganda will petition the World Bank, cite its historical investment, and demands KCCA enforce regulatory compliance. “CSOs and activists must stand together to hold leaders accountable,” Mr. Atuheire Brian urges.
“Nakivubo is not for sale it’s a public trust we must defend for future generations. “We invite CSOs and activists to amplify this fight:
Raise Awareness: Use #SaveNakivubo on platforms like X to share evidence of flooding and environmental harm.
Join Petitions: Support our appeals to the World Bank and KCCA.
Mobilize Communities: Engage traders, residents, and youth to demand sustainable urban planning.
Advocate for Policy: Press MPs and regulators to uphold constitutional protections and environmental laws.
The stakes are high. Floods are already disrupting lives, and unchecked development could make Kampala unliveable. This is a fight for justice, climate resilience, and the soul of our city. All voice counts join us to ensure Nakivubo remains a public good, not a private profit. CSOs and activists, your expertise, networks, and passion are vital. Together, we can stop this ecological and social injustice.
Contact AIFE Uganda at info@aifeuganda.org for details to coordinate efforts.
Act now Save Nakivubo, Save Kampala.
