Gerald Tenywa, Florence Nakaayi, Anne Mugisa, Conan Businge and Hilary Bainemigisha
10 August 2007
Kampala — Last week, a heavy downpour gave Kampala residents a rude reminder that they are in a city of floods. A little boy died in the flood on his way to school. Business stalled as storm water gushed into buildings and filled up roads in low-lying areas of the city. Cars got stuck in the roads. Muscular men made brisk business carrying stranded people across the floods.
What is the problem?
A glaring problem is the blockage of drainage channels by silt and garbage, making them unable to drain the city's storm water adequately. Most of the channels that were constructed or rehabilitated under the Nakivuvbo Channel Rehabilitation Project four years ago, are now clogged. The project, which cost $9m (sh15b), was implemented with a World Bank loan. A survey by Saturday Vision early this week found that virtually all the drainage channels were choked by silt, garbage and bushes.
Paul Mafabi, the Assistant Commissioner for Wetlands, says another major cause of flooding is that many people have erected buildings in wetlands that used to act as reservoirs and drainage pathways for storm water.
He also blamed increased construction and paving, which does not allow water to sink underground, yet there are no adequate drainage channels to take away the storm water.
"Nothing has changed in Kampala. There is still filling of wetlands with murram," he said. "Kampala City Council should implement the drainage master plan, which sets aside areas for flood regulation. Overcoming flooding requires a holistic approach. It is not an issue of only wetlands. Clear guidelines are needed for settlements on hillsides."
The Kampala Deputy Mayor, Florence Namayanja, throws the blame at the Kampala Northern Bypass project, which goes through the city wetland areas. The road, she said, is being constructed in wetlands without providing storm water with alternative escape routes. Some of the culverts used in the road, she said, are too small for proper drainage.
"We have communicated to the Ministry of Works to find out what we can do. We had earlier suggested to the ministry that the Bypass contractor puts bigger culverts," Namayanja said, adding that they had not received any response from the ministry.
However, works minister Nasasira throws back the blame to KCC, for failing to implement the Kampala Drainage Master Plan. He said his ministry would not accept blame for the failures of KCC. He warned Kampala politicians against inciting residents to demonstrate against his ministry over floods. Such politicians, he said, are only covering up for their failure to protect city residents from floods.
"I express sympathy to the people who are losing property in the floods, but the leaders in Kawempe Division who are neglecting their work are to blame," Nasasira said.
The minister added that a committee set up by Parliament had established that over 90% of the floods in Bwaise-Kawempe were caused by wetland encroachment. He squarely blamed KCC for allowing people to build in wetlands.
"People should never have been allowed to settle in the wetlands. Water drainages should not be blocked with bottles and other rubbish. We have tried our best to support KCC and within a few months the potholes are filled; they shouldn't abuse our hand of support. We shall withdraw our services from KCC and let them account for their shortcomings," a visibly angry Nasasira told journalists on Thursday.
While Kampala City Council acknowledges that drainage channels are not properly maintained, it said the problem is much bigger than that. Tamale Kigundu, manager of the Nakivubo Channel Rehabilitation Project (NCRP), says Nakivubo is only one of the seven flood plains within Kampala City. Therefore NCRP alone could not eradicate flooding in the city.
Never-the-less, he said, the floods are not as bad as they were before the project. "The challenge remains the inadequate maintenance that leads to silting and blockage of water flow," said Tamale. "KCC has, however, prioritised maintenance of the channel and funding has been allocated for de-silting."
KCC, too, does not have all the answers to the resurgence of floods in the city. "We are also investigating why flooding is coming back," said Tamale.
In the meantime, KCC blames city residents for irresponsible garbage disposal. "It is hard to imagine, but people take advantage of the rains and dump waste into the channel," said Kigundu.
He also blamed ongoing road construction works in the city and the narrow roadside drains built three decades ago.
What should be done?
As a remedy, Tamale proposes that some building will have to be demolished to give way for storm water drainage. He cited Old Port Bell Road near the city abattoir, where some buildings were erected in the water way. Other buildings will be demolished in Bwaise to allow for widening of the Lubigi channel. "KCC has a drainage master plan that was designed three years go. At least we know the problems," he said.
He said discussions were in the final stages to secure a World Bank loan to enable KCC construct two major drainage channels in order to reduce the city's floods. The loan will also enable KCC to establish a garbage landfill that is expected to harness electricity from waste.
Whether this new World Bank project will save the city from floods, remains to be seen.
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