KAMPALA – The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has officially phased out the construction of roads with open drainage channels, a move hailed by public health experts and residents alike.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The decision, announced during a community engagement meeting in Kiwatule Central on August 19, 2026, comes after years of mounting concerns over the public health hazards posed by uncovered drains across the city.
Speaking before a gathering of residents and traders, Ms. Jalia Namubiru, a sociologist at DOTT Services, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction firm hired by KCCA to upgrade the Kiwatule road to tarmac, explained the rationale behind the policy shift.
“For years, residents have regrettably used these open channels as informal sewers. This practice has not only compounded the burden of clogging but has also exacerbated the perennial flooding that paralyzes parts of the city during heavy rains,” Ms. Namubiru stated.
The open drains, she noted, have become breeding grounds for disease vectors, emitted foul odors, and posed physical dangers to pedestrians, particularly children and the elderly.
KCCA has adopted a modern design of covered drainage channels that double as walkways, effectively managing stormwater while providing safe pedestrian pathways to enhance mobility and hygiene across the city.
“This innovative approach serves two critical purposes. It effectively manages stormwater while providing safe, designated pathways for pedestrians, enhancing both mobility and hygiene in our neighborhoods,” Ms. Namubiru explained.
The covered walkways are expected to reduce accidents, discourage illegal dumping, and make the city’s drainage system easier to maintain.
KCCA has commissioned DOTT Services to transform the dilapidated road into a durable tarmac thoroughfare, a project that promises to reshape the area’s economic and social landscape.
Nakawa Division Mayor Buken Ali Nubian Li assured residents that KCCA will promptly clean and maintain the newly tarmacked road, with employment opportunities emerging both during construction and beyond.
He passionately urged the community to embrace the project, highlighting its power to invigorate trade, elevate property values, and significantly improve the quality of life for every household in Kiwatule.
“This road will boost trade, increase property prices, and uplift the living conditions of every resident in Kiwatule. Let us embrace this development as our collective win,” Mayor Nubian counseled.
The phasing out of open drainage channels aligns with KCCA’s broader vision of a clean, green, and livable city, with the authority committing to covered systems in all future road projects as a hallmark of thoughtful urban planning.
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