Nabbanja said the current number of culverts is insufficient, and that this was a contributing factor to the extensive flooding that occurred last week in downtown Kampala. (New Vision/Files)

KAMPALA - Kampala businessman, Hamis Kiggundu, has heeded to Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja’s directive to open additional culverts to divert large volumes of water into the Nakivubo Channel.

Speaking while inspecting the extent of the damage caused by the Nakivubo Channel flooding, Nabbanja said the current number of culverts is insufficient, and that this was a contributing factor to the extensive flooding that occurred last week in downtown Kampala. 

However, Ham has said he welcomes the technical guidance by engineers on what needs to be done best to avert a similar problem in future.

“We shall listen to their technical guidance. We are ready to work with KCCA to ensure water, which always collects on the surface whenever it rains, enters the channel,” Ham said.

He noted that whereas Nakivubo Channel’s width was six metres, his team had widened it to 12 metres, adding that his engineers projected that the channel would draw water for between 50 and 70 years.

The businessman said that whereas the channel was previously open, it posed a danger to members of the public, as many disposed of rubbish into it, leading to clogging.

“CAF officials inspected Nakivubo Stadium and said that, whereas the standard is good, it can't be international when water and sewerage are flowing in an open space near the stadium and asked that it be covered,” he said.

Ham noted that whereas Nakivubo Channel’s width was six metres, his team had widened it to 12 metres, adding that his engineers projected that the channel would draw water for between 50 and 70 years.

Museveni orders probe into Nakivubo Channel flooding

During the KCCA meeting with traders on Monday, Kampala Resident City Commissioner Haji Umaru Mawiya announced that President Yoweri Museveni had stepped in with a directive for a swift investigation into the Nakivubo flooding crisis. 

In a tone laced with empathy and resolve, Mawiya also relayed the President’s heartfelt apologies to families of the four people who died and to the traders who have lost their goods in the floods. 

“Allow me to convey the sympathies of the President. Regarding this long-standing issue, the President directed the Prime Minister (Robinah Nabbanja) to convene an urgent meeting on Saturday. He has further instructed that the matter be thoroughly investigated to determine the source of the floods, which I believe is a significant step forward,” Mawiya said. 

The downpour left the once bustling shopping centres like Pentangon City Plaza, Totala and Freedom Centre, flooded.