Greater Kampala’s persistent road flooding has become a major obstacle for businesses, causing delays, financial losses, and operational disruptions. From transportation salons, agribusinesses, Health centers, metal fabrication, washing bays, markets, supermarkets, and schools to e-commerce, nearly every sector is feeling the impact.
Kampala and surrounding areas have experienced enhanced rains in the last week. On March 26, 2025, traditional media and social media platforms were awash with flooded roads, flooded businesses, closing off certain sections and causing traffic.
Roads are kings of business in Uganda.
Road transport is the most dominant movement mode carrying 96.5 % and 95 % of freight cargo and passenger traffic respectively.90% of businesses rely on roads to move goods and staff from one point to another.
Traffic congestion and Floods impact roads already stretched with a huge road maintenance backlog. Kampala is currently undertaking several road reconstruction projects that have also contributed to the drainage challenges.
Cost to Government
Road network disruption in Central Uganda heavily impacts Government revenue collection. Uganda’s GDP is heavily concentrated in Central Uganda. Kampala (22.5%), Wakiso (20.8%), and Mukono (5.3%). Wakiso has the largest GDP per capita in Uganda ($3,250), followed by Kampala ($2,655) and Mukono ($1,738).
A World Bank study put traffic jams related to economic GD losses to UGX 2.8trillion. According to KCCA Mobility magazine,24,000 man-hours are lost in traffic jams each year. There is a correlation between enhanced rains and traffic jams.
Logistical challenges.
Drop in deliveries means less sales. Businesses had shifted logistics to motorcycles, tricycles, and electric bicycles to move around Kampala to deliver items faster which is no longer sustainable with flooded roads. An electric bicycle or car cannot perform well in flooded road sections.
This means that deliveries cannot be done on time since we are not yet using drones for town deliveries. Factories are not able to move goods. Business leaders are always on the move and it was clear that part of Entebbe Road was flooded yet it leads to the airport.
Flooded roads make movement difficult, reducing daily earnings for Boda-boda riders and taxi operators. Boda and cyclists in the delivery business, like Jumia and Glovo, are affected, hence the cancellation of orders. Trucking and freight businesses are also heavily impacted. Floods damage goods in transit and increase fuel costs due to longer alternative routes. Some Cars are washed off the roads with goods in them.
Drop in demand
According to the Kampala City Authority 2023 Road Safety report, Kampala’s city night population of more than 1.5 million increases to almost 3.5 million daily as people commute to work. Retail and Shopping Centers in Kampala were heavily impacted with Fewer customers due to inaccessible roads and transport disruptions. People prefer to stay home.
Road flooding around Big markets like Owino, Busega, and Kalerwe), results in goods damage and discourages buyers. Also, malls, Boutiques, and electronics shops feel the same impact of reduced foot traffic hence lower sales.
Additionally, restaurants, cafes, and food vendors are impacted since flooded roads disrupt their supply chain. Disrupts Floods disrupt supply chains, leading to shortages and higher food prices. Tourists and patrons fear taking risks on the flooded sections of the road.
Damages
Flooded roads slowly impact office investments and business premises. You will find online several pictures of offices and factories in Kampala flooded. So many businesses have since lost paperwork, products, and space. Businesses end up with an increased fleet maintenance bill due to vehicle damages.
Effect on Agribusiness
Dairy and poultry farmers only work if there is no spoilage due to delays in delivery. Transportation to markets is difficult. Those in farming businesses lose animals due to delayed feed delivery by road. Also enhanced rains damage crops that are even ready to harvest and take to the market. Usually when a road floods, it spills over to nearby farms.
Imagine investing your life savings in dairy cows, poultry, or pigs, only to watch them weaken or worse, die because feed trucks cannot navigate flooded roads to take feeds or take animals to the market. Delayed feed deliveries mean malnourished animals, reduced milk production, and financial ruin. It is heartbreaking is watch farmers lose entire harvests just days before they can sell.
It’s a gut-wrenching sight: heavy rains and poor drainage turn fields into swamps, swallowing up the fruits of their labor. Crops that were ready for market, promising a lifeline of income, are reduced to soggy, rotting waste. It’s a devastating blow, not just to their livelihoods, but to their hopes and dreams.
The devastating impact of flooded roads in Uganda goes beyond traffic jams and delayed deliveries. It is strangling farmers and threatening national food security. Uganda’s agricultural sector is drowning, and our leaders must act on climate change.
Enhanced rains and flooded areas translate to power disruptions in Uganda since power goes off automatically, this in turn causes business disruptions since machines will not be working.
Flooded roads in Greater Kampala are a major economic disruptor to regional trade since Ugand is a transit route for so many goods going to neighboring countries.
E-Commerce & Digital Services slow down during floods. Online retail platforms surely experience delays in last-mile deliveries frustrating customers. Ride-hailing and food delivery apps experience canceled orders due to flooded routes. Emergency response times worsen due to flooded streets. Insurance businesses feel the pinch of higher insurance payouts to flood-affected businesses. To car wash and auto repair shops, floods damage vehicles and reduce customer visits.
Business continuity recommendations.
Businesses are advised to plan to stock extra inventory prior to enhanced r rainy seasons and tak eon flood insurance. Businesses can also explore diversifying supply chains to avoid dependency on flood-prone routes in Kampala. Kampala should consider cable cars and more train services.
Without urgent infrastructure improvements, businesses will continue to suffer losses, supply chain breakdowns, and reduced productivity.
The government and private sector must collaborate on better drainage systems, elevated roads, and flood-resistant urban planning to safeguard businesses and sustain economic growth. Until then, companies must find innovative ways to adapt and survive the recurring floods.
