Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Kampala Capital City Authority has given the green light for the controlled removal of remaining unsafe structures at St Balikuddembe Market, also known as Owino. Technical teams found the buildings destabilised after earlier partial demolition work along the Nakivubo drainage channel, prompting the authority to issue a supervised permit to businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly called Ham.
The move follows an assessment by an inter-agency committee that inspected the site after unauthorised overnight demolition on March 7. KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine explained that the remaining sections pose risks to traders, customers and nearby residents, so controlled clearance is the safest option. The area will stay cordoned off during the work.
Kiggundu had already compensated 48 affected traders with three million shillings each and promised them rent-free lock-ups in a future modern building. During a meeting on March 14, KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki assured market leaders that the main Owino Market itself faces no immediate threat and any future changes would come through proper channels. Instead of new shops, the cleared land will become a stormwater retention facility to ease flooding in surrounding neighbourhoods.
For traders who have operated in crowded, flood-prone conditions for years, this project offers a chance for long-term improvements even if short-term disruption hurts business. The authority’s focus on drainage infrastructure reflects broader efforts to make Kampala more resilient to heavy rains, a step that could benefit thousands beyond just one market.
