KAMPALA-UGANDA | In a decisive move to kickstart long-awaited redevelopment works, city businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, has launched a massive cleanup operation along the downstream section of the Nakivubo drainage channel. The exercise marks a critical first step in preparing the site for actual construction to begin in the coming weeks.

Heavy machinery, trucks, and manpower were deployed to remove waste, debris, and sediment buildup along key segments of the channel — an area notorious for flooding, pollution, and poor sanitation. The cleanup operation signals the beginning of what is expected to be a transformative project aimed at modernizing the Nakivubo Channel and its surroundings.

Ham, who is also behind the redevelopment of Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, has pledged to upgrade the entire drainage system while integrating commercial infrastructure to promote urban renewal, flood control, and better sanitation in downtown Kampala.

“This is not just about cleaning; it’s about preparing the foundation for lasting development,” Ham said on site. “We are committed to working with relevant authorities to ensure that this project benefits the people and the city.”

The upcoming construction phase will involve covering and modernizing the channel, creating service lanes, installing water filtration chambers, and possibly developing commercial spaces above the infrastructure — all designed to restore functionality and aesthetics to one of Kampala’s most vital drainage arteries.

Photos and videos from today’s cleanup efforts show dredging works on the channel, heaps of collected waste, and crews working to clear the path for a new chapter in Kampala’s urban evolution.