Ham, KCCA Join Forces to Transform Nakivubo Channel into Kampala’s Green Corridor Ahead of AFCON 2027
The once-problematic Nakivubo Channel, long blamed for floods and pollution in Kampala’s central business district, is undergoing a dramatic facelift that promises to turn it into a landmark of smart, eco-friendly urban design.
At the heart of this ambitious effort is a collaboration between businessman Dr. Hamis Kiggundu (Ham), the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and technical guidance from inspection teams of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and CHAN.
Their shared goal: to ensure the channel not only stops being a hazard but becomes an asset as Uganda gears up to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
CAF inspection teams, after recent visits, have praised the redevelopment progress and underscored its importance in meeting international standards.
Their recommendations are directly shaping the roll-out of the works, keeping both environmental safeguards and infrastructural quality at the core.
For KCCA, which is offering technical oversight and integrating the project into its drainage master plan, the partnership sets a new standard for urban problem-solving.
“The collaboration between public institutions and private investors such as Hamis Kiggundu is exactly what Kampala needs to address long-standing urban challenges. This is not only about AFCON; it is about leaving a permanent legacy of safety, beauty and functionality for city residents,” said a KCCA official.
Ham, who is personally financing the redevelopment, views the project as a mission bigger than football.
“Nakivubo Channel has been a source of floods, insecurity and loss of life for too long. This redevelopment is about giving Kampala a clean, safe and modern urban drainage system. It’s a responsibility we owe our people, and a statement that Uganda is ready for the future,” he said.
The upgraded channel is expected to include underground flood-control chambers, advanced waste-filtration systems, pedestrian walkways, and landscaped green spaces.
What was once seen as an ugly scar across the city will instead stand as a proud symbol of resilience, modernity, and environmental responsibility.
Already, planners and residents are applauding the initiative, describing it as a breakthrough in homegrown development — a project funded by local investment rather than foreign aid.
Beyond solving Kampala’s long-standing flooding issues, the Nakivubo Channel redevelopment is being celebrated as a bold expression of Uganda’s ambition, innovation, and readiness to shine on the continental stage at AFCON 2027.
