A brief but intense afternoon rainstorm on Wednesday triggered fresh flooding in several parts of Kampala, disrupting businesses and reigniting anxiety among traders still recovering from last month’s devastating deluge.
Floodwater quickly pooled in key locations, including Farmers' House, the stretch along Container Village on Nakivubo Road, and the Queensway interchange.
Traders were stranded inside their shops as water entered basements, parking areas and corridors.
The latest flooding comes barely three weeks after the October 31 downpour that destroyed merchandise worth billions of shillings across downtown Kampala.
Although Wednesday’s episode was less destructive, it deepened concerns among business owners still struggling to rebuild.
“We are tired of water entering our shops. The floods come even after the rain has stopped, and every time they destroy what we are trying to rebuild,” said Patricia Tumusiime, a trader at Sekaziga Building whose shop was inundated.
At Farmers’ House, workers created makeshift channels to push water out of the basement after drainage outlets were overwhelmed.
Along nearby streets, traders watched as water swept through verandas and pushed debris into their stalls.
In Container Village, boda boda riders scrambled to move motorcycles off the roadside while traders placed bricks at doorways in an attempt to divert the water.
Several businesses remained closed, with owners citing repeated flooding as both a financial and safety risk. Many traders are still repairing walls, replacing shelves and restocking on borrowed money after the October disaster.
“I have been preparing my shop carefully, watching how others rebuilt after October. Today, just a little rain and we are already facing the same fear because our equipment is water-threatened as it can rust. I don’t even want to open tomorrow,” said Samuel Galiwango, a trader at Container Village.
Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials said drainage improvements are underway to mitigate future floods.
Seven new 900-millimetre-wide culverts have been installed across some of the most affected areas—Ssekaziga Building, Juba House, Shamba Complex, Gaggawala Shawuliyako, Pentagon Building, Qualicel and Totala Business Centre—to increase water flow and reduce flooding.
“These culverts have been placed under the Prime Minister’s directive to expand water outlets and enhance the city’s drainage capacity.
The flooding today occurred because the rain was relatively heavy, but the new installations are part of our long-term solution,” said Nuwebine, a KCCA official.
Engineers are continuing to clear silt and debris from existing channels as part of ongoing efforts to prevent blockages.
Authorities have urged traders and residents to remain vigilant during the rainy season as drainage upgrades progress.