Cabinet has reversed a proposal to redevelop Kampala’s City Square, formerly known as Constitution Square, opting to retain the site’s existing legal status following concerns over its historical significance, heritage protection, environmental considerations and urban planning implications.
The decision was communicated by Justine Lumumba, the ICT Minister, who said Cabinet had reconsidered the proposed development in light of the square’s protected status and the need to preserve its place in Uganda’s national history.
Constitution Square is a legally protected heritage site whose protection dates back to 2007. Its status is recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, and a heritage protection instrument issued in 2024.
The protected area covers approximately 1.172 hectares, comprising plots 5, 6 and 7. It also hosts the 1945 War Memorial, a monument dedicated to Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.
The memorial gives the square historical significance beyond its location in the heart of Kampala’s central business district. It serves as a reminder of the contribution and sacrifice of Ugandans who served during the two global conflicts.
The proposed redevelopment had raised questions about how the city could pursue urban development while safeguarding sites of national heritage. The latest Cabinet decision means the development proposal will not proceed under the plan that had been under consideration.
In communicating the decision, Lumumba emphasised that the square and its memorial form part of Uganda’s national history, making respect for their legal protection a central consideration in decisions concerning the site.
The reversal also places renewed focus on the balance between Kampala’s urban development ambitions and the preservation of historical public spaces, particularly those protected by law.
City Square occupies a prominent position in central Kampala, where public spaces serve as important landmarks within the capital’s commercial and civic landscape. Maintaining its existing legal status means any future proposals affecting the site will have to take its heritage protections into account.
Cabinet’s position is that Constitution Square will retain its existing legal status, bringing the proposed redevelopment to a halt and reaffirming the government’s commitment, as stated in the announcement, to protecting the site’s historical significance.