The inter-ministerial committee investigating the viability of proposed developments on Kampala’s City Square and Nakivubo Settlement Primary School land has completed its inquiry, paving the way for President Yoweri Museveni to decide the fate of the contested projects.
The proposed developments have sparked debate over the future of public land in the city, with Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo questioning the consultation process, while developer Haji Hassan Mulwadda maintains that the projects will benefit Ugandans by creating commercial and innovation opportunities.
Minister for Kampala Minsa Kabanda, who chairs the inter-ministerial committee, said the investigation considered several factors, including the historical significance of the sites, their tourism potential, their location and the student population at Nakivubo Settlement Primary School.
Kabanda said the committee consulted relevant government institutions, including the Ministry of Lands and the Solicitor General’s office, whose views were incorporated into a report to be submitted to the President.
“We involved other ministries like Lands and the Solicitor General, and they have shared their thoughts with us in a report that is going to be delivered to the President,” Kabanda said.
The committee reportedly brought together officials from the National Planning Authority and other relevant institutions to assess the proposed developments and their implications for the two sites.
However, questions remain about the ownership and status of the contested land, including claims that portions of the sites may previously have been allocated to other developers.
Kabanda maintains that the land remains under the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), dismissing claims that other parties hold titles to it.
The inquiry follows concerns about whether the proposed commercial projects could change the public use of City Square and affect the operations of Nakivubo Settlement Primary School.
Balimwezo has challenged the process, arguing that the minister should have consulted the relevant landowners and authorities, including KCCA, in accordance with the President’s directive.
“What the minister is doing is contrary to the presidential directives. She was supposed to consult the landowners. As KCCA, we have not seen her,” Balimwezo said.
The Lord Mayor’s remarks raise questions about the extent of consultation between the committee and the city authority responsible for managing Kampala’s public spaces.
Meanwhile, developer Haji Hassan Mulwadda has defended the proposed projects, saying they are intended to provide facilities and opportunities that would benefit the public.
Mulwadda said the plans include a shopping centre and an innovation hub, which he believes will create commercial opportunities and promote innovation among Ugandans.
“We are going to build a shopping centre and an innovation hub. Who is going to benefit from that? Ugandans,” Mulwadda said.
The proposed developments have continued to attract attention because of the competing interests surrounding public land, commercial investment and the preservation of existing public facilities.
With the inter-ministerial committee having completed its investigation, attention now shifts to Museveni, whose decision is expected to determine the way forward for the proposed projects.
The outcome could have wider implications for the management of public land in Kampala, particularly where redevelopment proposals involve spaces and facilities used by the public.