Cabinet has approved Shs19 billion in compassionate financial assistance for 1,841 traders whose businesses were affected by the devastating floods that hit Kampala in October 2025.
The financial support, amounting to Shs18.999 billion, is intended to help verified traders recover from losses suffered during the October 30 and 31, 2025 floods, which affected several business premises in Kampala’s Central Business District (CBD), including St Balikuddembe Market, commonly known as Owino Market.
According to a press statement issued following the 16th Cabinet meeting held on November 9, 2026, Cabinet also approved an additional Shs1 billion to support the operations and revolving fund of the Federation of Uganda Traders Associations (FUTA).
Of the additional funding, Shs682.5 million will cater for FUTA’s operational expenses, while Shs318 million will go towards the government’s contribution to the association’s revolving fund.
The floods, which followed heavy rainfall, affected traders operating in 13 arcades and Owino Market, leaving many businesses struggling to recover from the destruction of merchandise and other property.
Among the affected buildings were Nana Arcade, Totala Building, Capital Centre, Pentagon Plaza, French Plaza, Premier Arcade, Qualicel Mall, Freedom Centre, Nabukeera Plaza, Ssekaziga Arcade, Jesco Centre, Jamboole Arcade and Tuba Plaza.
Delivering Cabinet resolutions at Uganda Media Center in Kampala on Tuesday, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, said that Cabinet further approved strategic interventions aimed at addressing the underlying causes of flooding in Kampala’s CBD and preventing a recurrence of similar disasters.
The findings identified several factors contributing to the flooding, including interference with stormwater drainage systems by some property developers along Ssebana and Allen roads, adjacent to Nakivubo Channel.
The affected properties cited in the findings include Totala, Qualicel, French Plaza, Ssekaziga, City Baza, Pentagon and Shree Indian Temple.
Other causes included the blockage of drainage outlets into Nakivubo Channel by silt, garbage, debris and illegally constructed pavements and plinth walls, which obstruct the flow of water and cause it to back up into surrounding business areas.
The assessment also identified undersized underground culverts and drainage channels along Nabugabo Road, Allen Road, Ben Kiwanuka Road, Luwum Street and Ssebana Kizito Road.
Additional factors included inadequate weep holes to allow underground water to drain into Nakivubo Channel, poor solid waste disposal, improper management of construction debris and environmental degradation resulting from the expansion of paved surfaces.
The Office of the Prime Minister will coordinate the implementation of the interventions in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Ministry of Water and Environment, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Ministry of Works and Transport, FUTA and representatives of the affected arcades.
In another resolution, Cabinet approved the appointment of the Board of Directors for the National Drug and Health Products Authority, established under the National Drug and Health Products Authority Act, 2026.
The new authority is a body corporate with its own legal identity, enabling it to own property, enter into contracts and sue or be sued in its own name.
The legislation, which was assented to by President Museveni on April 27, 2026, repealed the National Drug Policy and Authority Act of 1993 and expanded regulatory oversight to include pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, diagnostics, public health chemicals and cosmetics.
The appointed board members will serve for four years and will be eligible for reappointment for one additional term.
Cabinet also approved funding for the demarcation and reaffirmation of Uganda’s international and local government boundaries.
The exercise will be guided by the Second Schedule of the Constitution, which provides for Uganda’s territorial boundaries, as well as colonial maps held by the Ministry of Lands and archives of the colonial office in London.
