Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo has urged Parliament to block the proposed allocation of Constitution Square and land belonging to a public school for commercial development, warning that the city risks losing vital public spaces and already limited education infrastructure.
Balimwezo said Constitution Square serves as a public assembly ground and potential emergency refuge, while the school land should be protected to preserve access to education in a city with few government-owned schools.
Speaking to the Nile Post in an interview,the Kampala Lord Mayor accused government officials of pursuing the proposed developments without adequately consulting Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), which he said has a responsibility to safeguard public assets.
“Those who want to give it out, we are saying no to this,” Balimwezo said, referring to Constitution Square.
He described the square as one of Kampala’s few remaining open spaces where residents can assemble during disasters and other emergencies.
Balimwezo said the site also holds historical significance, having been renamed Constitution Square in recognition of its place in Uganda’s constitutional history.
He called on MPs to intervene and ensure that public land is not transferred to private developers without following the required procedures, arguing that Parliament has a role in approving the disposal of government assets.
The Lord Mayor also raised concerns about the proposed disposal of part of a public school’s land, saying Kampala has only 23 fully government-owned schools, against a policy target of 101.
He said some of those schools were established in 1954 to provide African children with access to education at a time when their opportunities to study in some institutions were limited.
Balimwezo further accused the Minister for Kampala of pursuing the proposed changes without adequately consulting KCCA, which he said shares responsibility for managing the city’s public assets.
He alleged that a proposal to construct a commercial arcade had been presented to the President without consulting the authority.
He urged Parliament to exercise its oversight role and ensure that any proposed transfer of public property follows the law and protects the interests of Kampala residents.
“Please stand with us,” he told legislators, appealing for their support in protecting public land.
The proposed developments raise questions about the competing demands for commercial investment and the preservation of public spaces and social infrastructure in Kampala.