Summary: President Yoweri Museveni’s government has reversed a controversial proposal to redevelop Kampala’s historic Constitutional Square into a commercial complex, with Cabinet opting to preserve the site’s protected heritage status and the 1945 War Memorial.
Kampala, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni’s government has made a U-turn on a controversial plan to redevelop Kampala’s Constitutional Square, popularly known as City Square, with Cabinet resolving to retain the site’s existing legal status as a protected heritage area.
The decision was announced on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Justine Kasule Lumumba, following a Cabinet meeting held on Monday. The reversal marks a significant shift from a proposal that Museveni had directed officials to examine earlier this year.
In an official communication during a press briefing at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday, the minister said Cabinet had reconsidered the site’s historical significance, legal protection, and environmental and urban planning concerns before deciding to abandon the proposed development.
“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,” her statement reads.
The decision halts the proposal to transform the prominent public space into a commercial complex featuring facilities such as a hotel and shopping mall. It also reinforces the government’s position that the site must remain protected because of its historical significance.
Museveni had directed review of redevelopment proposal
The reversal follows a directive issued by Museveni on August 30, 2026, asking the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, to evaluate a proposal by businessman Hassan Bulwadda to redevelop the square.
The proposed project envisioned a modern, environmentally friendly commercial complex incorporating a hotel, shopping mall and solar-powered amenities. Museveni’s directive required Kabanda to examine the proposal, consult the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), and report back to him.
At the time, government clarified that the presidential directive was an instruction to study the proposal and provide advice, rather than a final approval for redevelopment.
The proposal subsequently attracted public and political scrutiny, with concerns raised over the potential loss of a significant public green space and the implications of commercial development at a protected heritage site.
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Joel Ssenyonyi were among the political leaders who raised objections to the plan, citing the importance of preserving public space and protecting the city’s historical and environmental assets.
Cabinet’s latest decision now reverses the development proposal that had been under consideration.
Constitutional Square remains protected
Explaining the reasons behind the decision, the minister said Constitutional 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 area covers approximately 1.172 hectares, comprising plots 5, 6 and 7. It also contains the 1945 War Memorial, which commemorates Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars. “The Square and its memorial are part of our national history. Decisions about the site must respect that history and its protected status,” the minister said.
The square is among Kampala’s historically significant public spaces, with its memorial serving as a reminder of Ugandans who died in the two world wars. Its protected status places legal and conservation considerations at the centre of decisions concerning its future.
The Cabinet announcement did not outline alternative development or improvement plans for the square, but made clear that the current redevelopment proposal had been reversed and that the site would retain its existing legal status.
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