Mega Fm & Agency
Cabinet has reversed a proposed redevelopment of Kampala’s Constitutional Square, directing that the historic public space retain its protected heritage status.
Minister of ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba announced the decision during a Uganda Media Centre briefing on Tuesday, citing the site’s historical significance, legal protection, environmental concerns and urban-planning implications.
Constitutional Square, which covers approximately 1.172 hectares across plots 5, 6 and 7 in Kampala’s central business district, houses the 1945 War Memorial commemorating Ugandan soldiers who died during the First and Second World Wars.
The square’s protected status dates to 2007 and is recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, and a heritage protection instrument issued in 2024, according to the Cabinet briefing.
The decision halts the proposed redevelopment and preserves the site’s existing legal status.
The decision comes amid growing pressure to balance Kampala’s urban development needs with the protection of historic landmarks and public spaces.