Kampala – Torrential rains hammered Uganda’s capital on Friday afternoon, leaving major streets and shopping arcades submerged under floodwater and disrupting business and traffic in the city centre.
Shops and roads in the downtown business district — including areas around Imperial Royale Hotel and Centenary Park — turned into waterways as brown floodwater flowed through arcades and onto thoroughfares. Traffic slowed to a crawl, with motorists and pedestrians navigating deep pools of stormwater, according to social media videos and eyewitness posts shared online.
Residents and traders quickly voiced frustration on social platforms as they documented flooded stalls and ruined merchandise.
On X (formerly Twitter), opposition leader BOBI WINE said the flooding was “a preventable situation” and urged urgent action. “Unfortunately, we shall continue to put up with this mess until we collectively say ENOUGH,” he wrote, extending sympathies to residents affected by the deluge.
Videos posted online show water engulfing busy streets and marketplaces, leaving some traders stranded and counting losses.
Recurring Problem, Calls for Solutions
Flooding in Kampala has been a recurrent issue linked to blocked drains, rapid urban growth, and the long-standing Nakivubo Channel drainage system, which carries stormwater out of the city. Experts and critics have argued that ongoing development and encroachment near the channel increase flood risks by reducing natural water flow capacity.
In past flood episodes, traders and residents have blamed the city’s drainage infrastructure for failing to cope with heavy downpours, and there have been calls for desilting and better maintenance of drains across the city.
Environmental and engineering groups previously raised concerns that redevelopment and construction along the Nakivubo Channel, including recent upgrades and commercial projects over parts of it, may be contributing to clogging or altering natural stormwater pathways, intensifying flood impacts during seasonal rains.
Business Losses and Traffic Chaos
Many small businesses in arcades saw clothes, electronics, and food items ruined by rising waters, while commuters reported gridlock on key roads linking the central business district to Kampala suburbs. Traders in affected zones have repeatedly warned that flooding destroys property and livelihoods, with some estimating losses in the billions of shillings.
Local authorities, including Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), have in previous incidents called on residents to report drainage issues promptly and have pledged ongoing maintenance of stormwater channels to reduce flood risk.
As Kampala continues to grapple with seasonal rains, affected traders and residents are urging the city and national government to step up coordination on urban drainage and flood-mitigation strategies to prevent such weekend scenarios from recurring.
