From Green Victory to School Safeguard: Kawempe Mayor Serunjoji Hails Constitution Square Win, Calls for United Stand to Protect Nakivubo Settlement School

Kampala leaders who successfully defended Constitution Square against commercial development have been urged to channel the same unity and resolve into protecting Nakivubo Settlement School, a critical affordable education facility serving low-income families in the city centre.

In a strongly worded statement released this week, Dr. Emmanuel Serunjoji, Mayor of Kawempe Division and Chairman of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Environment and Natural Resources Committee, expressed deep gratitude to those who stood firm to preserve the historic public green space. 

He specifically thanked His Worship the Lord Mayor, the Leader of the Opposition, Kampala Members of Parliament, the KCCA Executive Director, the City Executive Committee, Division Mayors, the Authority Council, and all others who resisted pressures to convert the square.

“You will always be remembered as people who stood up for environmental conservation and the protection of public green spaces in the face of competing other interests,” Serunjoji said. “Through your commitment and determination, you have secured a place in the history of environmental conservation in Kampala.”

The statement comes days after the Cabinet, chaired by President Yoweri Museveni, reversed plans to redevelop Constitution Square (also known as City Square) into a commercial complex featuring a hotel, shopping mall and related facilities. 

The government confirmed on 27 October 2026 that the approximately 1.172-hectare site, which includes the 1945 War Memorial, will retain its protected heritage status under existing legal instruments, including provisions dating back to earlier constitutions and the Museums and Monuments Act.

Serunjoji framed the Constitution Square victory as more than a one-off success. He positioned it as proof that coordinated leadership and public pressure can defend community assets against competing commercial interests. Now, he said, attention must shift urgently to Nakivubo Settlement School.

The school, located in a densely populated central Kampala area near major markets, has long served children from low-income households who rely on its relatively affordable education. Recent months have seen proposals to redevelop the land it occupies—reportedly spanning several acres—into a skills training centre and commercial complex. 

Authorities have discussed transferring the remaining pupils to nearby Nakivubo Blue Primary School, citing the settlement school’s poor infrastructure, limited space and declining enrolment. Critics, however, warn that closing or significantly altering the school would remove a vital community resource for ordinary Kampala residents.

“Our attention must now turn to Nakivubo Settlement School, where we must remain equally vigilant, united, and determined to protect the interests of the low-income earners who depend on affordable schools,” Serunjoji stated. He called for the same spirit of solidarity, courage and commitment that saved Constitution Square to be applied to the school.

The Kawempe Mayor appealed directly to the Lord Mayor, the City Executive Committee, Division Mayors, the Authority Council and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and present a common position. He urged constructive engagement through legal and institutional channels to ensure the voices of low-income earners are heard and protected.

“We must not allow our unity to end with Constitution Square,” he said. “Let us build an even stronger team, remain focused on our shared responsibility, and work together to secure a fair and sustainable outcome for the affected communities. The task ahead requires unity, courage, strategy, and persistence.”

Serunjoji emphasised that defending public spaces, community assets and the interests of ordinary citizens demands consistent leadership and collective responsibility. He framed the twin issues of green space preservation and access to affordable education as linked struggles for environmental conservation, social justice and the rights of ordinary Ugandans.

“Together, let us stand for the environment, social justice, and the rights of ordinary citizens. Our unity is our strength, and our commitment must remain unwavering,” he concluded.

The statement positions the recent Constitution Square decision as a foundation for broader advocacy. With Cabinet having prioritised heritage protection and public open space in the city centre, Serunjoji’s intervention signals that city leaders intend to apply similar scrutiny and pressure to proposals affecting educational facilities serving Kampala’s poorer residents.

 Whether the same level of political will and public mobilisation can be sustained for Nakivubo Settlement School remains the next test for Kampala’s leadership.