By Cybernewsug | News Desk
Businessman Hassan Bulwadda’s proposal to transform Kampala’s City Square into a modern, solar-powered commercial complex has sparked debate over urban development, investment, environmental protection and the preservation of national heritage.
KAMPALA, Uganda — Businessman Hassan Bulwadda’s ambition to contribute to Uganda’s economic transformation through large-scale real estate investment has drawn national attention following his proposal to redevelop Kampala’s historic City Square into a modern commercial complex.
The proposed development, which was presented to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in August 2026, envisioned a solar-powered shopping mall, hotel, parking facilities and other amenities intended to support commercial activity in the capital.
However, the proposal has encountered significant opposition from political leaders and heritage advocates who argue that City Square, also known as Constitutional Square, should remain a protected public space.
On October 27, 2026, Cabinet rejected the redevelopment proposal and resolved that the square should retain its existing legal status, according to the Uganda Media Centre and reports by New Vision.
The decision has placed renewed attention on the balance between private-sector investment and the protection of public spaces in Uganda’s urban development agenda.
#Bulwadda’s vision for Kampala
Bulwadda’s proposal sought to transform a prominent section of Kampala’s central business district into a modern commercial destination.
According to reports published by Daily Monitor and New Vision, the businessman proposed a development featuring a hotel, shopping facilities, parking infrastructure and environmentally friendly technology.
The proposal was presented as an opportunity to introduce additional commercial activity into the city centre while incorporating modern architectural and environmental features.
President Museveni acknowledged receiving the proposal in a letter dated August 18, 2026.
In a subsequent directive dated August 30, the President instructed Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Minister Minsa Kabanda to examine the proposal in consultation with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and report back to him.
The directive initiated a government review of the project’s feasibility and implications.
The proposed development was significant because of its location at City Square, one of Kampala’s most prominent public spaces.
The square sits within the capital’s central business district, where commercial buildings, government institutions, financial services and other businesses contribute to daily economic activity.
Bulwadda’s proposal therefore raised questions about how Kampala can accommodate new commercial investments while preserving public spaces that serve historical, environmental and recreational purposes.
#Proposed investment and employment opportunities
The proposed City Square development was presented as a substantial private-sector investment.
New Vision reported on October 6, 2026, that Bulwadda said financing for the project had been secured and that preparations were ready to begin once the government granted clearance.
The publication reported the proposed investment at approximately $125 million, equivalent to about Shs502 billion at the time of reporting.
Bulwadda was quoted as saying:
“The funding for the project has been secured. We have everything in place to undertake this project as soon as we get clearance.”
The statement reflected the developer’s position that financing and preparations were in place, although the project remained subject to government approval.
The proposal also included ambitious employment projections.
According to New Vision’s October 27 report, Bulwadda said the planned complex would create more than 30,000 jobs for Ugandans.
The proposed facilities included a shopping mall with 2,500 shops, a hotel and parking space for approximately 1,500 vehicles.
Other features mentioned in the proposal included free Wi-Fi, water fountains, a green rooftop and public amenities.
These figures represented the developer’s projections rather than independently verified employment or construction outcomes.
The project had not received final approval, and the government’s subsequent rejection meant that the proposed development could not proceed in the form presented.
#Environmental concerns and public space
The proposal attracted opposition from leaders who argued that City Square should remain an open public space.
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo was among those who opposed the redevelopment plan.
Daily Monitor reported that Balimwezo argued the square should be protected for environmental, recreational and emergency purposes.
The concerns reflected broader debates about the availability of public spaces in Kampala, where increasing commercial activity and urban development have placed pressure on land and infrastructure.
Public squares and green spaces can provide areas for recreation, community gatherings and environmental benefits, including improved urban air quality.
The proposal also raised questions about the long-term management of public land and the extent to which commercial developments should be permitted in historically significant locations.
The Uganda Media Centre said Cabinet’s decision was informed by the site’s history, legal protection, environmental considerations and urban planning concerns.
The government concluded that the square should remain in its existing legal status.
#City Square’s historical significance
City Square is not simply a commercial plot within Kampala’s business district.
The location has historical significance and is associated with the country’s national heritage.
According to ICT and National Guidance Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba, the square’s protection dates back to the 1962 constitutional framework.
The site is also recognised under heritage protection arrangements, including the Museums and Monuments Act and a heritage protection instrument issued in 2004.
The square contains the 1945 War Memorial, which commemorates Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.
Lumumba said the square and its memorial form part of Uganda’s national history and that decisions concerning the site must respect its historical significance and protected status.
The presence of the memorial adds another dimension to the debate surrounding the proposed redevelopment.
While private investment can contribute to economic growth, heritage sites often carry public and cultural value that extends beyond their commercial potential.
The Cabinet decision therefore highlighted the importance of considering historical preservation alongside investment proposals.
#Government review and the final decision
The government initially considered the proposal through a review process.
Following President Museveni’s August directive, Minister Kabanda was tasked with examining the feasibility of the project in consultation with KCCA.
By October 6, Daily Monitor reported that a seven-member committee had been formed to evaluate the redevelopment proposal.
The committee brought together representatives from government ministries, departments and agencies.
Its responsibilities included examining legal, land, planning, security, tourism and city administration implications.
The review was expected to provide technical input before a report was submitted to the President.
However, Cabinet subsequently considered the proposal and decided that Constitutional Square should retain its existing legal status.
Lumumba communicated the decision at a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on October 27.
The decision effectively ended the proposal’s consideration in its submitted form.
It also demonstrated that government review of a private investment proposal does not necessarily guarantee approval, particularly where public land, heritage protection and environmental considerations are involved.
#Uganda’s broader development agenda
The debate surrounding Bulwadda’s proposal reflects a wider question facing Uganda: how to attract private investment while ensuring that development remains sustainable and inclusive.
Uganda’s long-term development aspirations include economic transformation, improved infrastructure, industrialisation and higher household incomes.
The National Planning Authority explains that the country’s Comprehensive National Development Planning Framework links long-term national aspirations with medium-term development plans and annual budgets.
The framework is intended to coordinate national and decentralised development planning while connecting policy objectives with resource allocation.
Within this context, private-sector investment can play an important role in creating economic opportunities.
Real estate projects can potentially generate construction activity, commercial space, employment and demand for supporting services.
However, the location and design of such investments are equally important.
Urban development must take into account transport, public infrastructure, environmental protection, land ownership and the needs of residents.
Kampala’s development challenges make these considerations particularly relevant.
The city’s commercial growth has increased demand for infrastructure and services, while public spaces remain important for recreation, environmental quality and urban planning.
The City Square debate illustrates the competing priorities that can emerge when investment proposals involve historically significant public locations.
#Conclusion
Hassan Bulwadda’s proposed redevelopment of City Square has become an important example of the challenges surrounding urban development in Uganda.
The proposal sought to introduce a modern commercial complex into Kampala’s central business district, with the developer projecting substantial investment and employment opportunities.
However, the site’s historical importance, environmental value and protected legal status became central to the government’s consideration of the project.
Cabinet’s October 27 decision to reject the proposal and preserve the square’s existing status demonstrates the importance of balancing economic ambitions with public interest and national heritage.
For Uganda, the broader development question remains how to encourage private-sector investment while protecting public spaces and ensuring that urban transformation benefits communities.
The City Square decision does not end the wider discussion about Kampala’s development. Instead, it underscores the need for investment proposals to align with the city’s planning priorities, legal protections and long-term public interests.
As Uganda continues pursuing economic transformation, the experience surrounding Bulwadda’s proposal highlights the importance of transparent planning, consultation and sustainable development.
Source:
