Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has halted a parliamentary inquiry into the redevelopment of the Nakivubo Channel by businessman Hamis Kiggundu, redirecting the probe to a newly appointed select committee under the Physical Infrastructure Committee.
The move, announced on Tuesday, came just as the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) was set to question Mr Kiggundu, widely known as Ham, over the controversial project.
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COSASE chairperson Medard Lubega Sseggona told members that he had received a letter from the Speaker instructing his committee to step aside, transferring the responsibility to a five-member team led by MPs Daniel Kimosho, Muhammad Nsegumire, David Kabanda, Peter Mugema and Ibanda Rwemulikya.
The directive was issued during a session attended by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) officials, including Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki, who had appeared to clarify the project’s status. Proceedings were suspended immediately after the announcement.
The Speaker’s intervention sparked sharp debate, with some MPs questioning whether the creation of the select team followed proper parliamentary procedure.
Kampala Lord Mayor Lukwago openly criticised the decision, calling it a deliberate attempt to protect Mr Kiggundu.
“This is a choreographed move to shield the tycoon and weaken KCCA’s oversight role. We shall not allow this to pass unchallenged,” he said.
KCCA Speaker Zahara Luyirika also rejected claims that the council had endorsed granting control of the channel to Mr Kiggundu, describing such reports as false and politically motivated.
The findings of the new select committee are expected to influence the next steps in the disputed redevelopment, which has drawn intense scrutiny from city leaders and the public alike.
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