Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has received commendation from lawmakers for its swift response to an unauthorized demolition at Owino Market, as Parliament’s oversight committee reviewed the incident and ongoing efforts to restore order in the city.
Appearing before the Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) on Wednesday, KCCA officials led by Deputy Executive Director Benon Kigenyi said the March 7 demolition was carried out without the authority’s approval.
“By the time this happened, KCCA was not in the know and could not give authorization,” Kigenyi told lawmakers.
He noted that the authority responded immediately, with Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki rushing to the scene at about 4 a.m. on March 8 to halt the demolition and ensure the safety of traders and the public.
Following the incident, KCCA instituted a multi-agency committee involving the Ministry of Works and Transport and State House to investigate the matter. The team’s report, finalised on March 12, found that the affected structures were already compromised and posed significant safety risks.
“We issued a demolition permit to the developer to ensure that the structurally compromised buildings were taken down in a safe and regulated manner,” the report stated.
Authorities have since arrested four individuals linked to the illegal demolition and impounded the equipment used, actions that lawmakers said demonstrated KCCA’s enforcement capacity.
Members of COSASE praised Buzeki’s leadership, with Medard Lubega Sseggona highlighting her hands-on approach.
“She was proactive and moved at night despite the risks to stop the demolition,” Sseggona said.
Lawmakers also commended KCCA’s broader work in managing the capital. Workers MP Charles Bakabulindi lauded the authority for “bringing sanity and restoring trade order in the city,” while Naume Kabasharara welcomed ongoing infrastructure improvements.
On transport, Sseggona pointed to the impact of the Kampala Flyover project, saying it “has brought some sanity” to traffic flow across Kampala.
Kigenyi also updated the committee on compensation for victims of the Kiteezi landfill disaster, reporting that 93 out of 95 affected individuals earmarked to benefit from the Shs4.3 billion compensation fund have already been paid.
“One beneficiary is out of the country and another has unresolved bank details,” he said.
Addressing persistent flooding and drainage challenges, Kigenyi acknowledged that while a comprehensive drainage master plan exists, it remains unfunded. In the interim, KCCA is managing high-risk zones through dredging and desilting efforts.
He further noted that only 700 kilometres of Kampala’s 2,104-kilometre road network are currently paved, underscoring the scale of infrastructure gaps the authority is working to address.
The COSASE session concluded with recognition that KCCA acted decisively during the Owino Market incident, while continuing to advance reforms aimed at improving safety, order, and service delivery in the city.
