Nakivubo flood compensation delayed as traders challenge list of beneficiaries

Traders affected by flooding around Nakivubo Channel are still waiting for compensation after a dispute over the list of beneficiaries delayed the release of Shs20 billion set aside by the government.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja told Parliament that the government had planned to begin paying the affected traders around May, but the process stalled after traders challenged the final list and petitioned President Yoweri Museveni for further intervention.
“We wanted to start payment around May. But the traders petitioned the President again during that time. So, the financial year ended,” Nabbanja said.
The compensation process was complicated by conflicting lists submitted by different stakeholders. Traders submitted 2,050 names, while the Uganda Revenue Authority presented 360 names, the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA) submitted 480 and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) provided 460.
A subsequent verification exercise reduced the number of potential beneficiaries to a harmonised list of 737 traders.
However, the traders disputed the outcome, leaving the government unable to proceed with payments before the close of the financial year.
“Since that time to date, we are waiting for a direction or a directive from the President,” Nabbanja told MPs.
The Prime Minister was responding to Budadiri County East MP Julius Muntu, who had sought an explanation over the continued delay in compensating traders who lost merchandise during the flooding.
Nabbanja said the Shs20 billion had been set aside, but the money was not transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister because the beneficiary list remained unresolved.