Workers raising a doorstep into a mall at Shauriyako, to guard against flood waterTraders along the Nakivubo Channel are worried about the continued closure of Allen and Ssebaana Kizito roads. The two roads were closed to allow drainage works following the devastating floods nearly two weeks ago.The repairs are aimed at opening blocked drainages, partly blamed for the flooding into the buildings along the channel. Last week, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) began work with Kiham Enterprises, owned by businessman Hamis Kiggundu, who is constructing malls over the channel.Hundreds of traders were left counting losses after storm water ravaged through their premises in the busy Nakivubo area.Most of the blame, according to the public, the traders, city authorities, and the engineering registration board was heaped on the controversial construction project over the channel.An inspection by the Office of the Prime Minister and KCCA resolved that Kiggundu, with the supervision of the city engineers, make adjustments in the water flow (drainage) systems.These included constructing a channel crossing to drain water from the roads that led into Allen and Ssebaana roads, through culverts passing under the two roads into the Nakivubo Channel.To date, seven culverts of 900mm (0.9 metres) wide have been laid, spread across the area from Shariyako to Container Village, which is also the length of the construction project.Traders in the area, who have since lost business due to the closure of the roads as well as the muddy fields, are worried that if it takes longer before the roads are reopened, they will completely close down as they can no longer meet the costs of business.Some spend more time cleaning up the chops of the dust occasioned on them due to the mud outside as they walk in and out.To try to guard against water entering the premises again, the owners of the shopping malls are raising the door steps even higher than the levels of the road pavements, at the same time making it riskier and prone to accidents, or difficult to access by the physically handicapped.The problem is more pronounced where the shops are in the “go-downs” or levels that were originally meant for parking vehicles but were converted into shops.At the time of construction, the developers are required to include a parking space, usually underground, before KCCA approves the plans.However, most developers then convert parking spaces into shops in violation of the building regulations, an issue that the city authorities have failed to curb.When KCCA Executive Director Sharifah Buzeki inspected the ongoing corrective works last week, she said this intervention would go a long way in improving drainage and reducing the flooding incidents.The usually crowded Nakivubo Channel area, teaming with roadside vendors, pedestrians, boda-bodas, and minibuses to and from the New Kampala Taxi Park, now features a handful of people.KCCA expects that the culvert-laying activities will end by November 15, and limited movements and business activities can commence until the end of November, when the roads are expected to be fully reopened.“Reinstatement of the carriageway at the culvert crossings shall be progressively done to allow businesses to operate during the day with minimal interruptions and be completed by November 30, 2025,” says a statement from KCCA.-URNThe post Business Down As Roads Closed For Three Weeks Over Nakivubo Channel Reconstruction appeared first on Business Focus.