UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The long-running dispute between city traders and businessman Hamis Kiggundu took another unexpected turn this week when the High Court in Kampala postponed the hearing of a key application after the presiding judge went on leave. The delay has deepened frustration among traders who say they are already grappling with the impact of repeated flooding in downtown Kampala.
The case, which has drawn considerable public attention, centers on allegations that construction works associated with Kiggundu contributed to severe flooding that recently swept through several shopping arcades. For traders who lost goods and stock, the legal battle is not just about accountability—it is about survival.
When the parties assembled in court expecting progress, the announcement that the judge had taken leave came as a blow. A lawyer representing one of the traders described the moment as deflating.
“Our people are waiting for justice, and every delay hurts them more,” he said outside the courthouse. “Many of these traders are operating on borrowed funds. When the shops flood, they lose everything.”
In parallel to the main suit, the traders had filed an urgent application seeking an interim injunction to halt all ongoing construction activities they believe are linked to the disputed project. They argue that the works have altered drainage patterns, directing stormwater into nearby commercial buildings. The most recent floods left several arcades ankle-deep in muddy water, with traders pulling out damaged stock and sweeping debris from their shop floors.
A trader from Kikuubo recounted the ordeal with visible exhaustion. “We watched the water rising inside our shops like a river entering a house,” she said. “By the time we realized how serious it was, our merchandise was floating. We don’t have the luxury to wait for court delays. Something must be done now.”
KCCA engineers have been inspecting drainage systems in the affected areas, though officials have not yet issued their final assessment. Traders insist the construction in question has made an already fragile drainage system worse. The interim injunction they seek is meant to prevent further harm while the main case proceeds.
Lawyers for Kiggundu maintain that their client complied with all regulatory requirements and is not responsible for the flooding. One of them, speaking after the adjournment, said the accusations were unfair.
“Our position is simple—my client followed every approved plan,” he stated. “Flooding in Kampala is a bigger infrastructural issue. You cannot blame one project for decades of drainage problems.”
The tension illustrates a broader challenge in Kampala: rapid construction outpacing the city’s infrastructure, particularly drainage channels that struggle during heavy rains. Traders argue that until the court steps in decisively, the pattern of flooding will continue, threatening livelihoods each time the skies darken.
With the judge on leave, the matter has been rescheduled, though no new date has been communicated. For the hundreds of traders who have pinned their hopes on the court’s intervention, the wait only deepens their anxiety.
An elderly trader who has worked downtown for more than thirty years summed up the mood. “We are not fighting anyone,” he said softly. “We just want to work without fearing that rain will destroy everything we have built.”
As Kampala prepares for more seasonal rains, the unresolved dispute remains a stark reminder of the delicate balance between development and the urban environment—and the human cost when that balance is disrupted.
READ MORE LIKE THIS:
Kampala Traders Shut Shops Amid Tax Grievances and Flood‑Damage Fallout