Cabinet reverses City Square development proposal

KAMPALA — Cabinet has reversed a proposal to redevelop Kampala’s City Square, formally known as Constitution Square, resolving to retain the site’s existing legal status as a protected national heritage site.

Minister of ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba announced the decision, saying Cabinet considered the square’s historical significance, legal protection, and environmental and urban planning concerns before deciding against the proposed development.

“Cabinet has decided to reverse the proposal for the development of City Square, formally known as Constitution Square, and retain the site’s existing legal status,” Lumumba said.

She said the decision followed a review of the site’s history and the legal instruments protecting it, emphasising that its heritage status must be respected in any decisions concerning its future.

According to Lumumba, Constitution Square’s protection dates back to 2007 and is recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, as well as a heritage protection instrument issued in 2024.

The protected site covers approximately 1.172 hectares, comprising plots 5, 6 and 7. It also houses 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 hold an important place in Uganda’s national history, making the preservation of the site a matter of national heritage.

“The Square and its memorial are part of our national history. Decisions about the site must respect that history and its protected status,” she said.

The minister reiterated that Cabinet had reversed the development proposal, clarifying that the decision preserves the square’s existing legal status.

“The public should therefore be clear: Cabinet has reversed the development proposal. Constitution Square will retain its existing legal status,” Lumumba said.

The decision means the proposed redevelopment will not proceed under the plan considered by Cabinet, with the site retaining its protected heritage status.

The development proposal had raised questions about how to balance the redevelopment of public spaces in the capital with the preservation of historically significant landmarks.

Constitution Square, located in central Kampala, is an important public space whose war memorial commemorates Ugandans who died in the two world wars.

Cabinet’s resolution reinforces the importance of considering historical, legal and environmental factors in decisions concerning public land and protected heritage sites.