Kampala Lord Mayor Balimwezo Demands Stop Order on Constitutional Square Redevelopment
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo opposes the proposed redevelopment of Constitutional Square (commonly known as City Square) into a private commercial complex featuring a hotel and shopping mall.
The push to convert the historic two-acre green space originated from a proposal city businessman Hajj Hassan Bulwadda. President Yoweri Museveni subsequently directed the Minister for Kampala, Minsa Kabanda, to review the proposal, prompting strong pushback from Balimwezo and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) political leadership.
The primary reasons driving the opposition to the project include:
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Legal & Constitutional Duty: Article 237(2)(a) of the Constitution and Section 11 of the KCCA Act mandate that public land be held in trust for the citizens. Balimwezo contends that KCCA has a statutory obligation to safeguard the square against private acquisition or commercial leasing.
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Historical & Cultural Preservation: Created in 1903 and designated as a protected national monument and historical site under a 2007 order, the square was renamed in 1995 to commemorate Uganda’s 1995 Constitution. Converting it into commercial real estate is viewed as a loss of heritage.
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Emergency Assembly & Public Safety: In a congested city center with over 3 million daily occupants in nearhigh-rises, offices, and courts, Constitutional Square serves as the primary open ground for emergency evacuations during fires, earthquakes, or security threats.
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Environmental & Flood Mitigation: The open green space provides tree cover, fresh air, and an unpaved surface that absorbs rainwater. Paving over it would exacerbate flash flooding and surface runoff across central Kampala.
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Precedent & Policy Consistency: In 2001–2002, a similar plan to lease the square to businessman Hassan Basajjabalaba was blocked then-Local Government Minister Bidandi Ssali. Balimwezo argues that reversing this 24-year precedent would set a harmful benchmark for urban green spaces across Uganda.
Balimwezo has formally written to Uganda’s Attorney General, Dr. Sam Mayanja, requesting legal advice to advise Cabinet against the proposal and to issue a formal stop order. He has urged that prospective private investors be directed to acquire private land on the open market or through the Uganda Investment Authority instead.