Can Kampala conquer congestion and flooding?
Share Article
Can Kampala conquer congestion and flooding?
Kampala, Uganda’s administrative and commercial capital is notorious for congestion and flooding.
By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine
If you live in Kampala, or if you have spent some time working in this vibrant African city, you will know first-hand how chaotic congestion and intermittent flooding can adversely affect your day-to-day activities in and around the city.
With extreme weather events becoming more unpredictable and more intense, Kampala is bracing for increased floods and daily interruptions. Sustainable solutions for the city are urgently needed to mitigate future risks.
A city of seven hills
Kampala’s topography and location plays an important role in its flooding woes.
The city is located on a series of hills, which results in water running down into the valleys where most people live.
The drainage systems are often unable to cope with the volume of water that accumulates, especially during heavy rains.
Kampala’s drainage infrastructure is outdated, poorly maintained, or insufficient to handle the increasing volume of rainwater, particularly during the rainy seasons. The lack of proper stormwater drainage channels causes water to accumulate in streets and neighbourhoods.
Increasing surface run-off
Unplanned and unregulated construction of building and roads in wetlands and natural water ways reduces the natural absorption of rainwater in the ground, while deforestation for urban expansion results in more surface runoff.
Inadequate waste management and waste disposal of plastic items in drainage systems often results in the blockages of drainage channels. This causes water to overflow into the surrounding areas.
The abovementioned factors make Kampala particularly prone to flooding, especially during periods of heavy rainfall.
Rehabilitation project tackles congestion
The 69.2km Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project, funded by the African Develop Bank, aims to improve the situation.
According to the African Development Bank Group’s Director for Climate Change and Green Growth, Prof. Anthony Nyong, the project is expected to benefit at least 1.6 million people, including commuters, business owners, and transport providers by tackling congestion in Kampala.
This will be achieved through improvements to the road network, upgrading of traffic junctions, and drainage capacity enhancements to mitigate street flooding.
Bank to mobilise funds
The Bank has mobilised USD275-million for the project, with the Global Environment Facility and the Government of Uganda jointly contributing USD5- million.
The implementation progress across all components is currently at approximately 28.4%. The original disbursement deadline has been extended by 3 years. The new project completion date is set for December 31, 2027. KCCA is the project implementer.
Poor infrastructure a challenge
Kampala faces significant infrastructure challenges. Most of its roads are in poor condition, particularly during the rainy seasons, and only 30 percent of the city’s 2,110 km road network is paved.
Poor road infrastructure leads to frequent traffic jams, hindering access to workplaces, commercial areas, and social services.
Additionally, inadequate solid waste management exacerbates flooding and impacts surrounding villages, necessitating integrated climate solutions.
To address the adverse effects of climate change, the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project is integrating 5km of drainage structures to enhance stormwater management and will plant more than 10,000 trees along the streets for carbon sequestration and noise reduction.
As a city of seven hills, Kampala faces persistent flooding challenges that require sustainable, newly designed systems. Uganda needs support to re-engineer these systems to tackle the climate challenges and increased flooding.
In addition to tackling congestion, the project will also improve air quality by implementing scheduled eco-bus transit services and expanding pedestrian and bicycle paths to improve travel options in the city.
Can Kampala conquer congestion and flooding?
