Jimmy Akena opposes redevelopment of Kampala’s City Square

Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) President Jimmy Akena has voiced strong opposition to a proposal to redevelop Kampala’s City Square into a commercial complex. The proposal, put forward by businessman Hajj Hassan Bulwadda, involves transforming two acres of the historical site into an eco-friendly real estate development featuring a hotel and shopping mall.

Akena criticized the move, warning President Yoweri Museveni against allowing remaining public green spaces in the capital to be converted for private commercial interests. He argued that City Square is a historical monument that should be preserved for future generations and questioned why such developments cannot be located on alternative sites within Kampala.

The controversy follows a directive from President Museveni for the Minister for Kampala City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, to study the proposal in consultation with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). Akena expressed concern that the trend of converting open spaces into concrete structures threatens the long-term quality of life in the city.