Why Do Floods Keep Happening in Kampala?

Why Do Floods Keep Happening in Kampala?

Heavy rain on October 7 exposed old problems, not a new mystery. Kampala sits on low-lying terrain with clay soils, many hills feeding water into valleys. When storms dump a lot of water in a short time, the city’s natural and built systems struggle to move it. The result is fast runoff, blocked channels, and pools that spread into roads and homes.

Kampala flooding causes stack up. The biggest drivers are wetland loss, clogged or undersized drainage, and rapid growth that replaces soil with concrete. You see the effects first in low-lying neighborhoods, then along major roads where water has nowhere to go.

Wetlands Under Pressure

Wetlands used to act like sponges. They held stormwater, slowed flow, and released it slowly after the rain. When people build on these areas, the sponge turns into a slick floor. Water runs off quickly and floods nearby streets and homes.

• Kinawataka wetland is a clear example. Parts have been filled or built over, so less water can soak in. During a burst like October 7, runoff from surrounding hills moves straight into drains and channels that are already full.
• The same pattern shows up in other city wetlands that face infilling and construction. Research on urban wetlands in Uganda links degradation to building, infilling, and sand or clay extraction, which reduces their ability to store water. See the overview in this study on wetland management and degradation in urban Uganda: Management of wetlands and livelihood opportunities in Uganda.

When wetlands shrink, flash floods become more likely. People in nearby valleys feel it first, then the downstream neighborhoods that sit along main channels.

Broken Drainage and City Sprawl

Many city drains were built for a smaller, less paved Kampala. Today, wide roofs, paved compounds, and tarmacked roads collect and speed up runoff. Old open channels silt up, plastic bags and debris block culverts, and water backs up onto streets.

• Outdated drains cannot carry peak flows from intense storms. Maintenance lags, so silt and trash reduce capacity right when it is needed most.
• More concrete, less soil means almost all rain becomes runoff. Even a 30-minute storm can overwhelm channels and spill into neighborhoods.

City planners have flagged these limits and proposed upgrades to trunk drains and floodways. A recent summary of planned drainage improvements highlights how old open channels fail during peak rain and why capacity upgrades matter: KCCA’s drainage plan.

On October 7, these same weak points likely shaped where water piled up. When wetlands cannot store water and drains cannot move it, even routine storms become disruptive. Understanding these causes helps target fixes, from protecting Kinawataka to clearing silted channels before the next storm.

How Floods Affect Lives and the City

Flash floods on October 7 disrupted daily routines across Kampala. Water pooled fast in low-lying zones, drains overflowed, and traffic slowed to a crawl. While reports pointed to few or no major casualties that day, the pattern is familiar. When storms hit hard, the impacts of Kampala floods October 2025 show up first where the ground sits lowest and drainage is weakest.

People and Homes Hit Hard

Families in vulnerable areas, including parts of Mulimira Zone in Bukoto, faced rising water around homes and shops. Floors soaked, furniture ruined, and school supplies lost. Even when walls stand, the cleanup is costly and slow.

• Displacement: Some households moved to neighbors’ upper floors or churches until water dropped. Short stays still mean missed work and school.
• Loss of belongings: Bedding, electronics, food stores, and IDs often sit near the floor. Once wet, much of it is gone.
• Emotional toll: Parents juggle safety, money, and repairs at once. Children worry about school and sleep in damp rooms.

Casualties were low on October 7, but risk remains high where footpaths cross channels and culverts. Previous storms in 2025 showed how quickly floods can turn deadly, as reported by the Uganda Police after heavy March rains that caused severe flooding and property damage: UPF report on severe flooding and losses.

Quick safety tips that help:

• Keep a go-bag with IDs, medications, and a small cash float.
• Avoid walking or riding through moving water. It can be deeper and faster than it looks.
• Turn off power at the main switch if water enters the house.

Economic and Daily Disruptions

Floodwater shuts doors. Small shops close early, stock gets damaged, and market stalls sit in knee-deep water. Commuters lose hours in traffic as key roads clog. Boda riders take longer detours. Deliveries miss windows. The city’s economy pays twice, first in lost sales today, then in repair costs tomorrow.

• Business closures: Perishable goods spoil. Cold storage fails during power cuts.
• Road blockages: Taxis and buses stall at flooded junctions, choking movement across the city.
• Hidden costs: Mold cleanups, medicine for coughs and skin infections, and higher transport fares add up.

Uganda’s wider flood data points to big annual costs and high exposure in urban, low-lying zones, which mirrors what Kampala felt in October: Flood impacts and exposure in Uganda.

For next time, simple steps reduce loss:

• Store goods on raised pallets, not the floor.
• Clear drains around your shop or gate before heavy rain.
• Plan alternate routes that avoid known flood-prone junctions.

What Is Being Done to Fight Back?

City teams, police, and neighbors moved fast on October 7. They cleared blockages, guided traffic, and helped families out of flooded rooms. The goal was simple, keep people safe during the storm, then fix weak points so the next burst does less damage. Here is how the Kampala flood response 2025 played out and what comes next.

Quick Rescue and Aid Efforts

Emergency crews focused on rescue, safety, and keeping roads open.

• Police and fire brigade: Officers redirected traffic at flooded junctions, warned riders off fast water, and supported evacuations from low rooms and shops. Towing units cleared stalled taxis and trucks to reopen lanes.
• KCCA response teams: Drainage crews lifted manhole covers, cleared silt and plastic from culverts, and set temporary barriers where water was overtopping.
• Health and relief: First aid teams treated minor injuries and hypothermia. Local leaders and volunteers moved people to higher floors and churches until water dropped.

Simple guidance kept many out of danger:

• Avoid crossing moving water, even if it looks shallow.
• Cut power at the main switch if water enters the house.
• Keep a small go-bag ready, IDs, medicine, a torch, and a phone power bank.

These actions reduced chaos and helped the city regain movement by evening.

Long-Term Fixes on the Horizon

Short fixes will not solve flood risk. Kampala needs stronger drains, protected wetlands, and smarter building rules.

• Nakivubo drainage works: National leaders backed upgrades to the Nakivubo Channel to boost capacity and reduce blockages during peak rain. See the update on presidential approval for the channel project here, President Museveni approves Nakivubo Channel ....
• City planning tools: KCCA launched a climate risk and vulnerability framework to guide where and how the city builds, protects retention zones, and prepares communities. Read the overview, KAMPALA LAUNCHES CLIMATE CHANGE RISK, ....
• Funding and partnerships: Donor support and public works budgets are lining up for trunk drain upgrades, desilting, and wetland recovery. Community cleanups before storms still make a real difference on each street.

What helps next: protect wetlands, finish Nakivubo upgrades, enforce building rules near channels, and maintain drains before the rains. With steady work and clear rules, Kampala can cut flood losses and keep daily life moving when the clouds break.

Conclusion

October 7, 2025, showed Kampala how fast a hard rain can turn into a citywide problem. Floodwater pooled where drains were clogged, ran faster where wetlands were lost, and hit low-lying homes and busy roads first. The lesson is clear, protect storage areas for water, keep channels open, and plan growth with runoff in mind.

Stay alert when storms build. Follow KCCA, police, and trusted local news for route updates and safety notices. Support wetland conservation in your area, even small gains help slow the next surge. Build a simple flood kit today, IDs and cash in a zip bag, key meds, a flashlight, a power bank, and copies of contacts. Store valuables off the floor and know the safest way out of your street.

Your voice matters. Share what you saw on October 7, where water rose fastest, and which drains failed. Ask your leaders to fund Nakivubo upgrades, protect Kinawataka and other wetlands, and keep enforcement tight near channels. Better rules and steady maintenance cut losses for everyone.

Thanks for reading and for looking out for your neighbors. What one change would make your block safer before the next storm?