Joel Ssenyonyi Slams Proposed Commercialization of Kampala's City Square

Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, has voiced strong opposition to plans that would see Kampala’s City Square transformed for commercial use. Ssenyonyi expressed dismay at the proposal, viewing it as an alarming encroachment on one of the capital city’s few remaining public green areas.

Initially, Ssenyonyi stated he found it hard to believe the proposal was genuine, questioning the logic behind sacrificing a public amenity for commercial development. “When I saw that letter about the proposed give-out of City Square, initially I thought it was a fake letter,” he remarked, adding that he was disillusioned by the lengths to which such proposals could go.

He highlighted that City Square serves as a vital public space accessible to all Ugandans and warned against the continued trend of public land appropriation in the city. “City Square is one of the few green spaces we have left in Kampala. It is a public space for all Ugandans. We cannot allow it to be given away for commercial buildings. Once we lose it, we lose it forever,” Ssenyonyi asserted.

The opposition leader urged both the government and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to prioritize the preservation of public spaces. He called for greater accountability and transparency in how public land is managed. Ssenyonyi concluded by emphasizing that public service should involve creating more green spaces, not diminishing the existing ones for private commercial interests.

Source: Nile Post