BY F K MALE: The Cabinet has rejected a proposal by Kampala businessman Hassan Bulwadda to develop the city square formerly known as Constitution Square.
Bulwadda had proposed to President Yoweri Museveni a plan to construct a shopping mall on the green space at Constitution Square.
On August 30, the President directed the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, to look into Bulwadda’s proposal.
The proposal sparked heated debate among opposition members of Parliament and Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo, who argued that developing the square would deprive Kampala of its green space, which is vital for improving the city’s air quality.
Today, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, told journalists at the government-owned Media Centre that the Cabinet had halted Bulwadda’s proposal to transform Constitution Square into a solar powered shopping mall and hotel.
Lumumba said the proposal had initially been referred to Kampala’s leadership, under the minister responsible for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, for discussion and a report to the President.
However, the President later brought the matter before the Cabinet for discussion, and ministers ultimately resolved that Constitution Square should retain its current legal status.
Her remarks left open the question of whether the Cabinet’s decision amounted to a formal reversal of the earlier proposal, leaving observers to interpret the outcome.
Attorney General to Advise on Legal Implications
Lumumba further explained that the legal status of Constitution Square raises complex questions because the site is reportedly protected under constitutional provisions and legislation governing museums and heritage sites. These include provisions associated with the 1962 and 1995 constitutions, as well as heritage protection laws, including legislation reportedly dating from 2024.
She added that Attorney General Sam Mayanja is expected to provide guidance on the legal implications of the proposal, including whether the investor could be entitled to compensation.
Constitution Square covers approximately 1.172 hectares and comprises Plots 5, 6 and 7. The site also contains the 1945 War Memorial, which commemorates Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.