By President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, to study a proposal to redevelop about two acres of Kampala’s City Square into a modern, solar-powered commercial and business complex.
The proposal, submitted by city businessman Hajj Hassan Bulwadda, envisages an eco-friendly real estate complex featuring a hotel, shopping mall and other commercial facilities powered by solar energy.
In a letter dated August 30, 2026, addressed to Minister Kabanda, President Museveni said he had received Bulwadda’s proposal dated August 18 and instructed the minister to consult the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) before reporting back to him.
“Study the proposal, discuss with Kampala Capital City Authority and come back to me,” Museveni wrote.
The proposal has since triggered a public debate over the future of one of Kampala’s best-known open spaces.
Lord Mayor rejects proposal
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Nsubuga Balimwezo has strongly opposed the proposed redevelopment, calling on city leaders and residents to defend City Square as public space.
In a statement circulating on social media, the mayor said the proposal was contrary to the protection of City Square as a public open green space and warned against turning the area into a commercial development.
“This morning, my phone and social media platforms of concerned citizens have been awash with a letter from the President proposing the development of City Square, contrary to the 2007 Protective Order that gazetted it as a public open green space,” he said.
“We condemn this proposal in the strongest terms.”
He described City Square as the only remaining green open space in Kampala’s Central Business District and an important emergency assembly point where thousands could seek safety in the event of a fire or other disaster.
“As Lord Mayor, I am convening an emergency meeting of the City Executive Committee in charge of Strategy to agree on the next course of action,” he said.
Balimwezo also called on councillors, citizens, environmentalists and other Kampala residents to join efforts to preserve the space.
“City Square must remain public. We must protect Kampala’s green spaces,” he said.
Public debate grows
The proposal has generated considerable discussion since the President’s letter began circulating, with many members of the public expressing concern about the possible loss of an open green space in the heart of the capital.
The debate comes at a time when Kampala continues to face pressure on its limited public and green spaces. City Square has historically provided residents and visitors with an open area in the middle of the busy Central Business District, where people can sit, rest and gather.
The space was previously also used as Freedom Square, a name associated with some of Kampala’s major political events. Over the years, it has hosted major gospel crusades, musical events and other public gatherings.
Supporters of modernising the space argue that, if carefully developed while retaining its public significance, City Square could potentially become a major attraction in the heart of Kampala.
The space has also previously been the subject of concerns over its public use. KCCA Executive Secretary for Planning Godfrey Luyombya said city authorities reject any attempt to take over City Square, describing it as public land held in trust for the people of Kampala.
