Kampala Floods Leave Residents Counting Losses as Leaders Blame Wetland Encroachment

What the report says

Two days of heavy rain flooded parts of Kampala, submerging roads, homes and business premises and leaving residents and traders assessing losses, according to Nile Post. The flooding was reported after the downpour began shortly after midnight on Saturday, with roads into and out of the city affected by Sunday morning. Some families were displaced, and relief items were reportedly being distributed in some affected areas.

City leaders used the latest floods to renew criticism of wetland encroachment and construction on drainage channels. Kampala Central Division Mayor Salim Uhuru said some traders had lost merchandise worth millions of shillings and accused technical staff at Kampala Capital City Authority of approving buildings in drainage areas. Kawempe Division Mayor Emmanuel Sserunjogi Owedembe also said wetland encroachment in his division had worsened flooding, while KCCA Deputy Speaker Olive Namazzi pointed to extensive development in areas such as Kinawataka, Kisenyi and Kyambogo as reducing space for water to drain.

The leaders called for stricter enforcement of environmental rules, stronger review of development approvals and action against structures built on wetlands and drainage channels. They also pressed for implementation of the Shs836 billion Kampala drainage master plan, which they said could improve stormwater management. More generally, urban flooding in Kampala has long been linked to wetland loss, blocked drainage and rapid development, though the specific impact of the proposed plan on this particular flood remains unclear from the evidence provided.