KAMPALA, Uganda** — Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Executive Director Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki has responded to public concerns about the state of Uganda’s capital, pledging continued efforts to improve road infrastructure, drainage, waste management, traffic discipline and the cleanliness of public spaces.

In a statement responding to comments on photographs she had shared of Kampala, Buzeki acknowledged residents’ feedback, welcomed signs of improvement in the city and conceded that more work remains to be done to make the progress sustainable.

“As one of you rightly put it, infrastructure, order and cleanliness are returning,” Buzeki said, thanking Kampala residents for recognising the improvements while reaffirming the authority’s commitment to addressing outstanding challenges.

Her response comes amid public debate over the appearance, organisation and management of Kampala, a city whose role extends beyond Uganda’s domestic affairs to include hosting diplomatic missions, international organisations, regional institutions and foreign investors.

Binaisa Road rehabilitation underway

Addressing concerns about road infrastructure, Buzeki confirmed that rehabilitation works on Binaisa Road are already underway, with drainage improvements in progress.

Effective drainage and reliable road infrastructure are essential to Kampala’s mobility, particularly during heavy rains, when flooding, damaged road surfaces and disrupted transport can affect businesses, residents and visitors.

Improving these systems is also important to the city’s ability to accommodate growing commercial activity and the movement of diplomatic delegations, international visitors and regional business travellers.

KCCA targets unauthorised posters and advertisements

Buzeki also responded to complaints about the proliferation of political portraits, posters and other paper advertisements on utility poles and public structures.

She said KCCA would continue enforcing regulations governing unauthorised posters and advertising to protect public spaces and maintain a clean urban environment.

The issue touches on a broader challenge facing rapidly growing cities: balancing political expression and commercial advertising with the need to preserve public infrastructure, visual order and pedestrian safety.

For Kampala, a city that serves as a gateway for international conferences, diplomatic engagements and regional business, the management of public spaces contributes to its overall image and the experience of those who live, work and visit there.

Commercial property owners face renewed scrutiny

On concerns that enforcement of the directive requiring commercial property owners to pave their forecourts had weakened, Buzeki acknowledged the importance of sustained implementation.

She said the authority would continue engaging property owners and monitoring compliance to improve pedestrian access, safety and the general appearance of city streets.

Well-maintained forecourts and accessible pedestrian areas are important components of an orderly urban environment, particularly in commercial districts where pedestrians, traders, motorists and public transport users compete for limited space.

Consistent enforcement will be critical to ensuring that such directives deliver lasting improvements rather than temporary changes.

Boda boda discipline and public transport regulation

Road safety was another major issue raised by residents, particularly concerns about boda boda riders travelling against one-way traffic and disregarding traffic signals.

Buzeki said KCCA would work closely with the Traffic Police and other stakeholders to promote road discipline and address dangerous riding practices.

She added that the authority was in the final stages of operationalising the Kampala Capital City Public Transport Ordinance, which is intended to strengthen regulation of the public transport sector.

The effectiveness of these measures will depend on consistent enforcement, cooperation between relevant agencies and compliance by road users.

For a capital city seeking to improve mobility and attract investment, safer roads and more predictable transport arrangements are important not only for residents but also for visitors, businesses and institutions operating within the city.

As Uganda’s capital and one of East Africa’s principal commercial and diplomatic centres, Kampala plays an important role in shaping the country’s international image.

The city hosts foreign embassies and high commissions, international development partners, regional business meetings and diplomatic engagements that connect Uganda with the rest of the world.

Its roads, public spaces, sanitation systems and transport networks therefore form part of the environment through which international visitors experience the country.

Cleaner streets, functioning drainage, reliable infrastructure and orderly public transport can strengthen Kampala’s appeal as a destination for conferences, tourism, investment and international cooperation.

However, sustaining these improvements requires more than periodic clean-up exercises or public assurances. It calls for consistent enforcement of urban regulations, adequate infrastructure investment, effective waste management and cooperation between the city authority, businesses, residents and other government agencies.

Buzeki expressed appreciation to residents who welcomed the improvements, including those who described the emerging picture as “the Kampala we love to see. Clean, organised and moving forward!”

She said KCCA remained committed to strengthening road infrastructure, drainage systems, waste management, street lighting and public space management to make that vision a lasting reality.