The High Court postponed a lawsuit filed by traders against Hamis Kigundu, seeking to halt his construction in the Nakivubo channel area. The case is adjourned to December 11th.
KAMPALA – The High Court has postponed a high-stakes lawsuit filed by traders against businessman Hamis Kigundu, in which they seek an immediate halt to his construction activities in the Nakivubo channel area. The case has been adjourned to December 11th by Court Registrar Simon Kintu Zirintuusa, presiding at the Tweed Tower.
The adjournment was granted after a coalition of defense lawyers—representing Kigundu's HAM Enterprises, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA)—formally requested more time for case consultation.
The plaintiffs, led by prosecutor Joseph Luzige, asserted that they had previously served the defence with a demand to cease all construction. However, Luzige noted that the applicants had not yet filed an affidavit in reply, despite a 15-day deadline that was set to expire this Saturday. The Registrar has now extended this deadline, requiring the defence to rejoin by December 1st.
In a strategic countermove, the defence team for Kiham Enterprises, led by Counsel Anold Kimara, has filed an application seeking the outright dismissal of the case. A hearing for this application has been scheduled for December 8th.
Luzige had vigorously pushed for the main suit to be heard today, emphasising the "urgency of this matter." He argued that the traders are suffering significant hardship, which is being severely exacerbated by the ongoing rainy season.
Echoing this sentiment, Godfrey Katongole, Chairperson of the Uganda National Traders Alliance, vowed to relentlessly pursue the case. "We are determined to see these activities halted," Katongole stated, directly linking the construction to the traders' current plight during the rains.
Katongole also voiced strong opposition to the government's proposed compensation process for affected traders, labelling the conditions as prohibitive. He cited requirements such as the possession of a TIN, updated income tax clearances, valid trading licenses, and a formal agreement as evidence that the government is "not willing to offer the compensation."
The traders have called upon the court to expedite the matter and have further demanded that KCCA produce the occupational permit for the disputed construction.
The defence was represented by a full legal team comprising Counsel Kimara Arnold, Morgan Gumisiriza, Mutesi Praise, and Kayongo Christopher. The outcome of the December 8th hearing on the dismissal application is now a critical precursor to the main case.
