Speaker Among Halts COSASE Probe into the Giveaway of Nakivubo Channel Redevelopment Project to Tycoon Ham

The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliamnet Rt. Hon. Anita Among has stopped Parliament Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COCASE) from CONTINUING TO investigate the giveaway of the Nakivubo Channel drainage project to Tycoon Hamis Kiggundu. 

The Speaker has appointed a five-member fact-finding team to conduct an oversight visit and report back to Parliament within 14 days.

Contained in the speaker’s letter dated 19^th August, Hon. Among directed the Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure to lead four legislators on the exercise.

“Pursuant to the Presidential Directive of August 2, 2025, and pursuant to Rules 71 and 97 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, I hereby direct you to lead the following fact-finding team for an oversight visit to parts of the Nakivubo Channel affected by the aforementioned presidential directive” she stated.

The directive was announced by COSASE Chairperson Medard Sseggona, who read details from a letter the Speaker of Parliament, Among, instructed Dan Kimosho, Chairperson of the Physical Infrastructure Committee, to lead the newly constituted team. 

The other members include David Kabanda (Kasambya County), Peter Mugema (Iganga Municipality), Kibedi Nsegumira (Mityana North), and Gerald Ibanda Rwemulikya (Ntoroko County).

“In light of those developments, it is the view of this committee that as a committee of Parliament, we shall not proceed with a matter that is before another committee of Parliament. So, we are advising the Clerk (of COSASE) to ensure that matters related to this particular issue be sent to that committee. However, enquiries into matters that are related to, one, encroachment onto KCC airline as contained in the Auditor General’s report for the year ended December 2024, shall continue to be investigated,” Sseggona said.

The Speaker’s move drew criticism from Yusuf Nsibambi, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party whip in Parliament and MP for Mawokota South, who questioned the legality of the decision. Nsibambi argued that Speaker Among had not consulted with party whips before forming the team, thereby bypassing standard parliamentary procedure.

The development comes shortly after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni expressed support for an ambitious proposal by entrepreneur Hamis Kiggundu aimed at revitalizing the Nakivubo Channel.

In a letter dated August 2, 2025, addressed to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, President Museveni lauded Kiggundu’s plan as both “imaginative and simple,” praising its potential to resolve long-standing issues of waste dumping and urban flooding.

“Ham points out the fact that the channel is open, inviting people to throw in rubbish, including plastics and faeces,” Museveni wrote.

“His proposal is imaginative and simple. Allow him to cover the channel after cleaning and strengthening it at his own cost. What a godly proposal!”

The President also backed Kiggundu’s plan to recoup his investment by constructing commercial properties above the renovated channel.

“How will he recover his money? Simple. Allow him to build properties above it that will bring back the money. I approve of the plan. Help him to execute,” Museveni directed.