Kampala, Uganda — Kampala City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago on Monday faced a major setback after being sent out of the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) during a heated session over the controversial Nakivubo Channel redevelopment project.
The much-anticipated meeting, which had drawn attention from city leaders, KCCA officials, and stakeholders, collapsed abruptly following a directive from Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among.
According to COSASE chairperson Hon. Medard Lubega Ssegona, Speaker Among wrote to the committee instructing it to halt any deliberations on the Nakivubo Channel project. The Speaker explained that the matter has already been placed under the jurisdiction of a select committee of Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Committee.
“We have received clear communication from the Office of the Speaker. This matter is now under the Physical Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Hon. Dan Kimosho, with a five-member panel handling investigations. As COSASE, we cannot continue with this engagement,” Ssegona announced before adjourning the session.
The directive effectively ended Lord Mayor Lukwago’s bid to challenge the ongoing redevelopment of Nakivubo Channel, which he has strongly opposed on grounds of legality, transparency, and potential environmental risks. Lukwago had hoped to use the COSASE platform to press his case against the project, accusing certain officials of pushing the development without following due process.
The Nakivubo Channel, Kampala’s main drainage artery, is undergoing a major facelift as part of government’s efforts to curb flooding in the city and improve urban infrastructure. However, the project has faced sharp criticism from Lukwago and some city activists, who argue that the works are being done at the expense of accountability and proper environmental safeguards.
Observers say the Speaker’s directive marks a turning point in the debate, shifting the spotlight away from COSASE and onto the Physical Infrastructure Committee, which will now lead investigations and provide recommendations to Parliament.
The Lord Mayor, visibly frustrated, accused Parliament of silencing legitimate concerns over a project that directly affects Kampala residents.
The redevelopment of Nakivubo Channel remains one of the most contentious infrastructure projects in Kampala, with sharp divisions between government authorities and city leaders over its management and long-term impact.
