news 5 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kampala's City Square Redevelopment Plan Under Ministry Review
A proposal to transform Kampala's City Square into a modern commercial complex, including a hotel and shopping mall, is now undergoing evaluation by a specially appointed seven-member committee. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ministries-evaluate-plan-to-redevelop-city-square-5621120
The future of Kampala’s City Square is under consideration as a detailed redevelopment plan moves to the committee review stage. Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, has established a seven-member committee tasked with scrutinizing a proposal to redevelop the 2.5-acre City Square.
This initiative follows a directive from President Yoweri Museveni on August 30th. The President instructed the Kampala minister to assess a plan submitted by city businessman Hassan Bulwadda. Bulwadda’s proposal envisions the transformation of City Square into a state-of-the-art, solar-powered commercial hub.
The envisioned complex is slated to include a hotel and a shopping mall, aiming to modernize the prominent city location. This move, however, comes amid past controversies regarding the development of City Square. In 2007, the government designated the area as a protected historical and monumental site, which historically barred commercial or private investment.
The current committee’s evaluation will consider the feasibility and implications of integrating such a significant commercial development into this historically sensitive area. The outcome of their review will determine the next steps for the City Square’s future.