Kampala Lord Mayor Eng. Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga is not having it.
The government wants to move Uganda’s capital from Kampala to Nakasongola. Balimwezo says: not so fast.
“ I respect the government and the minister. However, changing the capital is not a decision that should simply be announced, ” he said in a statement this week.
The debate started after State Minister for Urban Development Margaret Muhanga Mugisha revealed government is looking at Nakasongola as a possible new capital. Her reason? Kampala’s traffic.
According to the minister, Uganda loses about Shs 2.8 trillion every year sitting in Kampala jam. The idea is to decongest the city and spread development to other areas.
But for Balimwezo, who wakes up to Kampala’s boda traffic and tax headaches every day, the proposal feels rushed.
“This is about people’s lives”
To him, Kampala is more than traffic and buildings. It’s livelihoods.
He describes the city as Uganda’s economic heartbeat — home to an estimated 4.5 million people and responsible for about 70% of local revenue. From the market vendor in Owino to the office worker in Nakasero, millions depend on Kampala to put food on the table.
“Relocating the capital will have major consequences for businesses, workers and residents whose livelihoods depend on Kampala,” he warned.
Moving ministries, courts, and embassies isn’t just moving files. It’s moving jobs, rent, customers, and entire communities.
“Fix Kampala, don’t abandon it”
Instead of packing up and leaving, Balimwezo says government should stay and fix what’s broken.
His proposal: invest seriously in public transport, fix the roads, and build infrastructure that actually works.
“You don’t abandon your home because the roof is leaking. You repair it,” he argued.
He’s also calling for a real conversation — not a press statement. He wants citizens, local leaders, business owners, and experts at the table.
“Let’s have a national dialogue. Let’s plan Kampala alongside other cities, inclusively,” Balimwezo urged.
Kampala has been Uganda’s capital since 1962. It holds Parliament, the courts, most government offices, and the country’s biggest business hub.
The Nakasongola idea is meant to solve problems. But Balimwezo’s message is clear: the solution can’t create bigger problems for the millions already here.
For now, the Lord Mayor’s stance sets the tone for what could be a long, and very public, debate about where Uganda’s heart should beat from.
