KAMPALA UGANDA: 27 October 2026— The Cabinet has officially reversed a proposal to re-develop Constitutional Square (popularly known as City Square) into a commercial complex, resolving to preserve the landmark’s existing legal status as a protected heritage site.
The decision was made public during the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre by the Minister of Information, Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Rt. Hon. Justine Kasule Lumumba.
The controversy surrounding the historic green space emerged after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni authored a directive dated August 30, 2026, addressed to the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hon. Minsa Kabanda.
In his letter, President Museveni referenced a proposal submitted on August 18, 2026, by businessman Hajj Hassan Bulwadda. Bulwadda had pitched plans to transform two acres at City Square into a modern, eco-friendly commercial and real-estate complex featuring a hotel, shopping mall, and solar-powered facilities.
The President directed Minister Kabanda to evaluate the proposal alongside the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and present recommendations to him.
“Study the proposal, discuss with Kampala Capital City Authority and come back to me.”
— President Yoweri K. Museveni (Letter to Hon. Minsa Kabanda, Aug 30, 2026)
Cabinet Decision and Heritage Protection
Following consultations and widespread public debate over the site’s environmental, legal, and historical importance, Cabinet formally evaluated the proposal and voted to reject the redevelopment plan.
Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba stated that the decision was arrived at after considering the site’s historical value, existing legal protections, and critical urban planning and environmental factors.
“Cabinet has decided to reverse the proposal for the development of City Square, formally known as Constitutional Square, and retain the site’s existing legal status,” Lumumba announced. “The public should therefore be clear: Cabinet has reversed the development proposal.”
Historical Significance of Constitutional Square
Constitutional Square covers approximately 1.172 hectares spanning Plots 5, 6, and 7 in central Kampala. Key aspects of its historical and legal standing include:
Protected Heritage Site: The space was designated as a protected heritage site in 2007. Its protected status is legally enshrined under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, and reinforced by a heritage protection instrument issued in 2024.
1945 War Memorial: The park houses the historical 1945 War Memorial, erected to honor Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives serving in the First and Second World Wars.
National Symbolism: Minister Lumumba emphasized that both the Square and its memorial represent integral components of Uganda’s national heritage that must be safeguarded.
With Cabinet’s latest directive, Constitutional Square will remain an open, protected public space in Kampala’s central business district.
