Traders whose businesses were destroyed by last week’s floods in downtown Kampala have rejected Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja’s proposed condolences, insisting that the government must instead compensate them for their losses.
The traders, many of whom operate in arcades and basement shops around Kisenyi and Nabugabo, have given government until Monday next week to present a clear compensation plan, warning that failure to do so will prompt “action.”
“We are talking about ten days since the first rains last Wednesday,” said trader leader Edward Ntale.
“We can’t go past next week Monday. By then, government should have compensated traders so that they can revive their lives and resume business.”
The traders accuse the government and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) of negligence, blaming the floods on poor drainage management and illegal construction along the Nakivubo Channel.
They also fault the Prime Minister for downplaying the scale of damage during her inspection visit earlier this week.
Tracy Lukwago, a shop owner who has operated downtown since 2019, said the floods left her business in ruins.
“From Saturday last week, we’ve been removing damaged items from the shop, and five days later we’re still clearing out. That tells you how much we lost,” Lukwago said.
Her shop, which stocked household goods such as plates, cups, baby items, and clothes, was among those Nabbanja did not visit during her assessment tour.
Lukwago believes this oversight denied the Prime Minister an accurate picture of the disaster’s magnitude.
“I don’t think she has the clear picture. If she had visited shops like mine, she would understand the extent of the damage and know the level of compensation needed,” she said.
Following her visit, Prime Minister Nabbanja had suggested that government would extend condolences to affected traders, but the remark provoked widespread anger.
“We can’t be talking about condolences; it must be compensation,” Lukwago insisted. “Condolences mean you can be given anything, and that’s disappointing.”
The traders say they have lost millions of shillings in goods and are demanding accountability from government officials, developers, and city authorities.
They have threatened to pursue legal action against KCCA, businessman Hamis Kiggundu, and other stakeholders they accuse of contributing to the tragedy.
While some traders have begun clearing their premises of the damaged stock, many remain stranded and uncertain about their next steps.
“We need help to rebuild,” Ntale said. “If the government takes responsibility for the negligence that led to this flooding, it must also compensate the victims.”