Uganda’s Engineers Registration Board (ERB) has demanded detailed technical documentation from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) regarding the ongoing redevelopment of the Nakivubo Channel, warning that failure to comply with engineering standards could worsen Kampala’s recurring floods.
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, and addressed to KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki, ERB Chairman Professor Henry Mwanaki Alinaitwe said the board was concerned that works could be advancing without the mandatory studies and environmental safeguards required by law.
“The redevelopment of the Nakivubo Channel, a critical urban drainage corridor discharging into the Victoria Basin, must be undertaken after the requisite mandatory studies and technical assessments have been carried out,” the letter reads.
“Otherwise, undertaking such a major infrastructure project without adherence to established engineering standards and procedures poses serious risks and could lead to catastrophic consequences.”
The ERB’s intervention follows a series of heavy floods in recent months that submerged major roads, shops, and bus terminals across downtown Kampala.
Torrential rains in August and September caused traffic paralysis and widespread damage in the Industrial Area, Clock Tower, and Kisenyi neighborhoods, where stormwater overflowed from clogged sections of the Nakivubo Channel.
Environmental analysts have long warned that the city’s drainage infrastructure has lagged behind rapid urbanization.
Solid waste dumping, silt buildup, and encroachment by informal settlements have all weakened the Nakivubo system’s ability to manage runoff into Lake Victoria.
As rainfall patterns become more erratic, the channel’s poor state has turned Kampala’s low-lying areas into flood hotspots.
Engineering Transparency
The ERB, which operates under the Ministry of Works and Transport, said it is seeking transparency over who is designing, supervising, and constructing the project, the technical criteria used to assess drainage capacity and flood risk, and the environmental safeguards approved by both the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the Directorate of Water Resources Management (DWRM).
The board also wants clarity on whether the project incorporates adaptive design measures to accommodate Kampala’s growing impervious surfaces and anticipated climate pressures.
The ERB said such details are essential to ensure the redevelopment meets national and international engineering standards and does not simply replicate past drainage failures.
Regulatory Oversight
The Engineers Registration Act empowers the ERB to regulate professional engineering practice in Uganda and advise government agencies on technical integrity.
The board said it stands ready to work with KCCA and other stakeholders “to promote engineering excellence, safety, and sustainable urban drainage.”
Nakivubo Channel, which serves one of Kampala’s largest catchments, is a linchpin in the city’s flood control system. Its redesign is expected to influence urban resilience planning for decades.
The ERB’s demand for documentation comes amid growing pressure on KCCA to prioritize long-term infrastructure planning over quick fixes to recurrent flooding.
KCCA has one month from receipt of the letter to provide the requested information.
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