URGENT: Nakivubo emergency works choke Kampala — commuters stranded, markets hit
Morning traffic in Kampala turned into a full-blown gridlock Monday 10th.November 2025 after KCCA closed key arteries to allow emergency repairs on the Nakivubo drainage channel — snarling business, spiking tempers and leaving traders counting losses.
Kampala, Uganda
Kampala woke to chaos as the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) ordered immediate emergency works on the Nakivubo channel. The closures — affecting Allen Road, parts of the CBD and feeder streets — were described by motorists as “total standstill” during the morning peak, with ride fares surging and boda-boda lanes jammed.
KCCA officials say the works are urgent: the channel, long disputed and repeatedly clogged, needs immediate reinforcement and clearing to prevent worsening floods during the rains. In the short term, that means lane closures and heavier traffic enforcement; in the medium term, KCCA says the job will reduce chronic flooding that has repeatedly paralyzed low-lying markets.
For traders around Nakivubo and the adjacent arcades, the timing couldn’t be worse. Many are still recovering from recent flood damage and a disagreement earlier this month about whether to close shops during clean-ups led to heated clashes on the streets. Retailers told The Urban Gazette they face lost stock and no firm compensation plan yet.
KCCA urges commuters to use alternative routes and public transport where possible, and promises night-shift works where feasible to limit daytime disruption — though residents remain skeptical after past projects that stretched on for weeks. Follow our live updates for alternative routes, school closures and market alerts.
