“The public should therefore be clear: Cabinet has reversed the development proposal. Constitution Square will retain its existing legal status,” she said.
Cabinet has reversed a proposal to redevelop City Square, formerly known as Constitution Square, and resolved to retain the site’s existing legal status as a protected heritage area.
The decision was announced by the Minister of Information, Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, who said Cabinet had considered the site’s historical significance, legal protection, and environmental and urban planning concerns before deciding to abandon the development proposal.
In a statement, Lumumba emphasised that Constitution Square is a protected heritage site whose preservation dates back to 2007 and is recognised under the Museums and Monuments Act, 2023, as well as a heritage protection instrument issued in 2024.
The protected area covers approximately 1.172 hectares, comprising plots 5, 6 and 7.
It also houses the 1945 War Memorial, which commemorates Ugandan soldiers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars.
Lumumba said the Square and its memorial form an important part of Uganda’s national history and that any decisions concerning the site must respect its historical significance and legally protected status.
“The public should therefore be clear: Cabinet has reversed the development proposal. Constitution Square will retain its existing legal status,” she said.
The decision means the proposed redevelopment of the site will not proceed under the plan considered by Cabinet, with the Square retaining its current heritage protections.
Constitution Square is a landmark in central Kampala, serving as a memorial space and a reminder of Uganda’s historical contribution to the two world wars.
The latest decision underscores the government’s position that the site’s historical and legal significance must be considered in decisions regarding its future use.