Mwine Mpaka, Chairperson, Physical Infrastructure CommitteeBy Prisca WanyenyaParliament has issued a two-months ultimatum to the National Building Review Board to produce an assessment report on how to avert floods in Kampala, especially in Lugogo, Nakivubo and Kyambogo that would inform Government to how lives and property that have for long been lost to floods can be saved in future.The ultimatum was issued by Mwine Mpaka, Chairperson, Physical Infrastructure Committee during a familiarisation meeting held with the National Building Review Board on 30th July 2026, where MPs tasked the Board to explain why they looked on as the proprietors at Lugogo Forest Mall build structure along a water way, thus exposing the premises to rampant floods.Mwine noted, “What is your current assessment? Are we going to still have floods? What is your recommendation? Are you telling this committee that we have to wait for another financial year as people’s property is being destroyed? Can we have a report on Lugogo, Kyambogo and Nakivubo within a period of one week? We shall need a preliminary report by 21st August, if not the final report.”However, Eng. Flavia Gutto expressed reservations on the earlier two weeks timeline given by the Board informing the Committee on Physical Infrastructure that the Board is currently conducting a broader study on natural induced disasters for the entire country, with the target focusing on the earthquakes, fires, landslides and floods.Eng. Gutto noted, “That was our plan, for two years, because one, as of now, we don’t have the funds, we will still come back to you and that means we will start next financial year. So, for now, what we have planned for is what he is discussing, while floods are part of it, it is coming in the next phase, which starts 1st July, 2027.”The discussion around floods in Kampala followed remarks made by Eng. Gutto who noted that the flooding challenge in Kampala can only be resolved after an engineering study is conducted on the flood prone areas before any solutions are implemented.She noted, “I think the issue with Kampala, we just need to do a fresh study on the floods in Kampala. I think from where I sit, we have built on all waterways. And for as long as we don’t give this waterway a pass, we are still going to flood. That is the fact. No, no, I don’t know whether to break… For now, I can’t say whether I should break or not until a study has been done on Kampala.”This prompted Mwine to inquire how soon such a study can be conducted, while some MP questioned why the National Building Review Board hasn’t taken action against people that constructed along Lugogo, to which Gutto said that before the coming into place of the Building Control Bill, the Board wasn’t equipped with powers to stop constructions in Uganda and all they could do was offer expert advice.Gutto noted, “Previously before the amendment, we were supposed to be hands off, so whatever was happening there, we were supposed to watch from a distance, nd our hands were tied, we could not do anything. So even where we saw a challenge, we had to write to KCCA and tell them to address it. Now that has been addressed, what we are saying going forward, maybe that will be something addressed. So, when Lugogo was happening, we were still under the previous dispensation where our hands are tied. Unless court, for example, ordered us or parliament ordered us to go there, our hands were tied, we could not do much.”James Waluswaka (Bunyole West) however rejected the claim on lack of funds and instead asked the Board to provide a breakdown on how much money would be spent on such a study.“You are so technical. What you want is Kampala, the flooding. Tell this committee, the minister here, the members are the ones who appropriate money, when will you do a study about the flooding? How much does it require? You come up with something, maybe the years, something through the minister,” said Waluswaka.The Board however noted that the two weeks ultimatum earlier issued by the Board wasn’t sufficient and instead asked for two months to which Eng. Gutto noted, “We will seek your indulgence that you give us two months because even the data we are going to use is not in our ted custody. We are going to go to metrology, I will write a letter and then they respond to me a month from today, and that is the data that I need to make this forecast.”Nathan Byanyima (Bukanga North) emphasized the need to have the study undertaken noting, “All of us know how much we have been spending in terms of disasters, tell us the contingency fund, which should be given to you people. What are we trying to do, save lives and people’s property? So, yours is not really like that you can go two months, three months. No, no, no, no. I know how active you are. This is a different standard, by the way. You have seen it. So, what you do, be on our side. Tell us what you need so that we can also fight together with you and ensure that you put things right.”Eng. Gutto however defended the two-month timeline calling on the MPs to disintegrate on whether they want the Board to attack the assignment or is it the outcome remarking, “Is it that we want a plan on how we are going to address this problem? Maybe that can come in in less than two months. But if we want a report on how to avoid floods in Nakivubo or avoid floods in Kyambogo, this has to take time.”The Minister of State for Transport, Julius Maganda asked the Committee to help by generating the letter that would help to sped up access to information during the conduction of the study.He stated, “Based on your guidance, probably when you generate your letter, it will also help us to escalate some of the information we may require from other agencies, let us start the process, let us look at the two months. Let us do something for you. Whenever it will require some areas of improvement, we shall keep improving. Let’s get the two months, but we shall also get guidance from the letter that will escalate what my team would require to pick from other agencies.” The post Parliament Gives NBRB 2-Month Ultimatum to Deliver Flood Prevention Plan for Kampala Hotspots appeared first on Business Focus.