Hundreds of traders operating in downtown Kampala have announced plans to stage a major protest later this month following devastating floods that have repeatedly affected their businesses.
The traders say the flooding was triggered by the closure and ongoing redevelopment of the Nakivubo drainage channel, which they believe has disrupted the natural flow of water in the city.
Many shop owners claim the situation has left them counting heavy financial losses after their shops were submerged during recent rains.
According to several traders, the flooding has become a serious problem that now occurs almost every time there is heavy rainfall in the city.
They explain that water quickly accumulates along streets and flows directly into their shops, destroying merchandise and forcing them to temporarily shut down their businesses. For many traders who rely on daily sales to survive, even a single day of closure can cause significant financial strain.
The affected business owners say they have reached a point where they can no longer remain silent about the situation. After months of enduring repeated losses and uncertainty, they have resolved to organize a protest to demand immediate attention to their concerns.
They believe the demonstration will help draw the attention of authorities and push for urgent action to address the drainage problem that continues to disrupt their work.
The traders have announced that the protest will take place on the 25th of this month. On that day, hundreds of shop owners plan to close their businesses across different parts of downtown Kampala before gathering to demonstrate peacefully.
They say the planned action is intended to show the seriousness of the losses they have suffered and the frustration that has been building within the business community.
Many traders say the floods have destroyed goods worth millions of shillings, leaving them struggling to recover. Some claim they lost entire stocks of clothes, electronics, food items, and other merchandise when floodwaters entered their premises without warning. In some cases, traders say the damage has forced them to start their businesses almost from scratch.
The business community says the problem worsened after redevelopment works began on the Nakivubo Channel, a major drainage system responsible for directing rainwater from different parts of the city into surrounding wetlands. Traders argue that any disruption to the channel directly affects water flow across the central business district.
Several traders allege that sections of the drainage channel were blocked or altered during the redevelopment process, preventing water from flowing smoothly as it previously did. As a result, rainwater now backs up into nearby streets and commercial areas, leading to the frequent flooding that has damaged their businesses.
Many traders have directed their frustration toward city businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, whose company has been associated with redevelopment works on the drainage channel. They claim poor planning during the project has created a situation where traders are now paying the price through repeated flooding.
According to some traders, they had raised concerns when the construction works first began but felt their voices were ignored. They believe that if proper consultations had been carried out with stakeholders in the area, the current flooding crisis might have been avoided.
Some traders say they have repeatedly reported the matter to city authorities, hoping for quick intervention to restore proper drainage in the affected areas. However, they claim that despite several complaints and appeals, little progress has been made to permanently solve the problem.
Others argue that the continued flooding has not only destroyed goods but has also discouraged customers from visiting certain parts of downtown during rainy days. As a result, traders say their daily sales have dropped significantly because fewer people are willing to risk entering flooded streets.
Some business owners have revealed that they were forced to borrow money in order to restock their shops after suffering losses during previous floods. This has left many traders operating under financial pressure as they struggle to repay loans while at the same time rebuilding their businesses.
Traders say the upcoming protest is not simply about expressing anger but about pushing for practical solutions that will prevent future flooding. They want authorities to ensure that the drainage channel functions properly so that rainwater can flow freely without affecting nearby businesses.
Many of the traders are also demanding accountability from those responsible for the redevelopment project. They argue that any development work in a busy commercial area should be carefully planned to avoid negatively affecting the livelihoods of ordinary people.
Despite the frustration and anger among traders, organizers of the protest insist that the demonstration will remain peaceful. They say their goal is to draw attention to the issue and encourage responsible authorities to address the drainage crisis before the situation worsens.
Traders also hope that by closing their shops on the day of the protest, the economic impact will highlight how serious the problem has become for the business community in downtown Kampala.
Some leaders within the trading community say they are currently mobilizing fellow traders across several buildings and markets to participate in the demonstration. They believe that a united voice will increase the chances of their concerns being heard and acted upon.
Security agencies are expected to monitor the situation closely as the planned protest date approaches. Authorities are likely to assess the demonstration to ensure that it remains peaceful and does not disrupt public order in the busy city center.
As the protest draws nearer, tension continues to build among traders who say they are determined to push for lasting solutions. Many believe that unless urgent steps are taken to address the drainage challenges, flooding will continue to threaten businesses and livelihoods across downtown Kampala.
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