President Museveni has directed the Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Minsa Kabanda, to study a proposal to redevelop the two-acre City Square in central Kampala into a modern, environmentally friendly commercial complex.
The proposal was submitted by businessman Hajji Hassan Bulwadda, who, in a letter dated August 18, 2026, asked the government to consider transforming the prime city-centre property into a modern real-estate development featuring a hotel, shopping mall and other commercial facilities.
In a letter dated August 30, 2026, addressed to Minister Kabanda, President Museveni said he had received Bulwadda’s proposal and instructed the minister to assess its feasibility in consultation with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
“I have received a letter from Hajji Hassan Bulwadda dated the 18th of August, 2026, proposing to develop the two acres at City Square in Kampala into a modern, eco-friendly real-estate complex, with a hotel, shopping mall, etc, using solar-power, etc,” the President wrote.
Museveni directed Kabanda to work with KCCA to scrutinise the proposal and report back to him.
“Study the proposal, discuss with Kampala Capital City Authority and come back to me,” the President said.
The proposed development would, if approved and implemented, introduce a solar-powered commercial complex at one of Kampala’s most prominent central locations. The plan envisages a hotel, shopping mall and other business facilities, with environmental sustainability incorporated into the development.
However, the President’s directive amounts to an instruction to examine the proposal and does not constitute approval for the redevelopment. The proposal will first have to be assessed by the relevant authorities.
The City Square, also referred to historically as Constitution Square, is a gazetted national cultural site and monument.
The history of the square dates back to the early years of Kampala’s formal urban planning. Historical accounts indicate that the site was identified around 1902–1903 as part of plans for the expansion of government administration away from the colonial administrative centre at Old Kampala. It was initially known as Government Square, with the colonial authorities reserving it for government buildings.
The site subsequently became associated with important government and judicial institutions, including the High Court. Its location in the heart of Kampala has also made it an important public space within the city’s central business district.
City Square is also situated close to the Independence Monument, one of Uganda’s most recognisable national landmarks. The monument, unveiled around the country’s independence in 1962, symbolises Uganda’s emergence from British colonial rule and remains an important historical feature of central Kampala
