By Kampala city businessman Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham, is once again in the legal spotlight after a group of traders filed a lawsuit accusing him of illegal construction works on the Nakivubo Drainage Channel, which they say caused last week’s floods that destroyed property worth billions of shillings.
The traders, led by Godfrey Katongole, have sued Kiggundu, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), seeking compensation and a court injunction to halt all ongoing construction works around the Nakivubo Channel.
Through their lawyers from Luzige, Lubega, Kavuma & Company Advocates the traders argue that Kiggundu’s project part of the Nakivubo Channel redevelopment was undertaken without the necessary environmental and physical planning approvals.
“We came to court because of what has transpired a few days back,” said Kasule Mpologoma, the traders’ lawyer. “The case arises from a letter written by His Excellency the President to the Prime Minister authorizing Hamis Kiggundu to proceed with his developments. However, he never followed any of the legal prerequisites.”
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According to Mpologoma, the traders’ businesses around the Nakivubo drainage were submerged after heavy rains, leading to significant losses. He added that both NEMA and KCCA were bypassed in the approval process, which violated environmental and planning regulations.
“We understand that NEMA and KCCA were never consulted, yet the construction continued,” he said. “We are asking court to stop these developments and order compensation so the affected traders can rebuild their lives.”
The latest case adds to a string of high-profile legal battles involving the city tycoon most of which have ended in his favour, earning him a reputation as one of the few businessmen who rarely lose in court.
In 2020, Kiggundu won a multi-billion shilling case against Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) after Justice Henry Peter Adonyo ruled that DTB Kenya had illegally conducted business in Uganda without a valid license. The court ordered the bank to refund UGX 34 billion and USD 23 million, funds that were allegedly deducted from Kiggundu’s accounts.
In another legal triumph, the High Court in 2022 dismissed five separate cases challenging his redevelopment of the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, ruling that the applications were incompetent and baseless. Justice Musa Ssekaana affirmed that Kiggundu’s company, Ham Enterprises (U) Ltd, was legally contracted to redevelop the facility.
Despite his courtroom success, this latest suit by traders could test both his legal resilience and public image, as it directly links his flagship Nakivubo project to destruction and loss of livelihoods in the city’s commercial hub.
As the case proceeds, the question once again echoes through Kampala’s business corridors: Who will ever beat Ham in court?
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