Businessman Hajj Hassan Bulwadda has backed Cabinet’s decision to halt his proposed redevelopment of Kampala’s Constitutional Square, saying the site’s historical significance must take precedence over his commercial ambitions.
In a statement following the government’s announcement on Tuesday, October 27, Bulwadda said he supported President Museveni and Cabinet’s decision to retain the square as a protected heritage site, despite his proposal to transform part of the public space into a commercial complex.
“I fully support the decision of Cabinet and H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to retain Constitutional Square as a heritage site,” Bulwadda said.
He praised Museveni for listening to public concerns, adding that his intention had been to contribute to Kampala’s development rather than undermine the site’s historical value.
“The President loves what the public loves, and I am also behind him. He has listened to the public and I also stand with the public and the President,” he said.
Bulwadda thanked Museveni for considering his proposal, acknowledging that heritage and history must come first.
His remarks followed an announcement by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, who said Cabinet had resolved to reverse the redevelopment proposal and retain Constitutional Square’s existing legal status.
Lumumba said the decision followed consideration of the site’s historical significance, legal protection, environmental concerns and urban planning implications.
“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,” she said during a press briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala.
The minister said the site has been protected since 2007 and is recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, and 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, commemorating Ugandan soldiers who died 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,” Lumumba said.
Bulwadda’s proposal began with a letter to Museveni dated August 18, 2026, seeking permission to redevelop approximately two acres at City Square into an environmentally friendly complex featuring a hotel, shopping mall and other commercial facilities powered partly by solar energy.
In a letter dated August 30, Museveni directed the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, to study the proposal in consultation with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and report back to him.
Kabanda subsequently constituted a multi-agency committee to assess the plan and its implications. The presidential directive initiated a review but did not amount to final approval.
The proposal drew opposition from political leaders and members of the public concerned about the potential loss of green space and the implications of developing a protected heritage site.
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo argued that the square should remain public space, citing its civic and historical importance and the responsibility of city authorities to protect public land.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi also questioned the proposed commercial development, raising concerns about the loss of one of the capital’s open spaces and Parliament’s involvement in discussions about the plan.
The government had initially maintained that the proposal was still under review. State Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives David Bahati told Parliament that Museveni’s letter merely directed ministers to examine the plan and advise him.
Cabinet’s decision now ends the proposal in its current form, underscoring the tension between commercial development and the preservation of public spaces and historically significant sites in Kampala.