Sh15b to upgrade Kampala’s slums
Jul 23, 2007
KAMPALA’s slums are to get a 6.6m Euro (sh15b) facelift, a joint project of the Governments of Belgium and Uganda and the Kampala City Council (KCC).
By Chris Kiwawulo and Fred Ouma
KAMPALA’s slums are to get a 6.6m Euro (sh15b) facelift, a joint project of the Governments of Belgium and Uganda and the Kampala City Council (KCC).
The Belgian Government contributed over 5m Euro (sh12b), Uganda 1.1m Euro (sh2.4b) and KCC 0.5m Euro (sh1.1b) to the programme dubbed ‘Kampala Integrated Environmental Management Project’.
Expected to kick off in October, the five-year project will benefit the slums of Katwe I, Kisenyi II and Bwaise III. The three parishes are located in Kawempe, Makindye and Central divisions respectively.
“It will involve building 12km of access roads, 13,000 square metres of drainage channels, 35 sanitation facilities, 3km water main lines, 35 water stand posts as well as planting 16,000 treesâ€, says project manager, Dr. Dan Twebaze. “It also has a provision for 200 housing units for families who will be displaced by the construction works.â€
The project, Twebaze explained, was aimed at improving the environmental and social well-being of slum dwellers and attracting investors to the area.
They were trying to reach a deal with the landlords to improve on housing facilities. Only 1% of the inhabitants were true landlords, he noted, 30% were bona fide tenants, while 70% were transient populations, staying not longer than five years.
The project, which wants to address the needs of a growing urban population, is expected to benefit 100,000 people directly and 600,000 indirectly.
In a later phase, it will be rolled out to other slums in the city.
Kampala’s population now stands at 1.4m and is growing at a rate of 3.9% per year. Another one million people come into the city every day as commuters.
“The result of this rapid population growth has led to the emergence of structures and dwelling units devoid of toilets, water supply, proper drainage and sanitation,†said Kampala deputy mayor Florence Namayanja at the launch of the project in Africana Hotel recently.
She argued that the project would go a long way in improving the health and sanitary conditions of slum dwellers, who have been experiencing periodical cholera outbreaks since 1997.
KCC faced a challenge of environmental degradation in slums like Katanga, Kisenyi, Naguru, Bwaise and Kamwokya-Kifumbira, she noted.
“These places do not have adequate water supply, solid waste and excreta disposal facilities. The current tree cover in the city can not adequately provide shade, food, recreation, protection against wind, water catchments and green scenery,†said Namayanja.
The greening project will be implemented through community based organizations, which need to register before they can be trained on how to preserve the environment.
KAMPALA’s slums are to get a 6.6m Euro (sh15b) facelift, a joint project of the Governments of Belgium and Uganda and the Kampala City Council (KCC).
The Belgian Government contributed over 5m Euro (sh12b), Uganda 1.1m Euro (sh2.4b) and KCC 0.5m Euro (sh1.1b) to the programme dubbed ‘Kampala Integrated Environmental Management Project’.
Expected to kick off in October, the five-year project will benefit the slums of Katwe I, Kisenyi II and Bwaise III. The three parishes are located in Kawempe, Makindye and Central divisions respectively.
“It will involve building 12km of access roads, 13,000 square metres of drainage channels, 35 sanitation facilities, 3km water main lines, 35 water stand posts as well as planting 16,000 treesâ€, says project manager, Dr. Dan Twebaze. “It also has a provision for 200 housing units for families who will be displaced by the construction works.â€
The project, Twebaze explained, was aimed at improving the environmental and social well-being of slum dwellers and attracting investors to the area.
They were trying to reach a deal with the landlords to improve on housing facilities. Only 1% of the inhabitants were true landlords, he noted, 30% were bona fide tenants, while 70% were transient populations, staying not longer than five years.
The project, which wants to address the needs of a growing urban population, is expected to benefit 100,000 people directly and 600,000 indirectly.
In a later phase, it will be rolled out to other slums in the city.
Kampala’s population now stands at 1.4m and is growing at a rate of 3.9% per year. Another one million people come into the city every day as commuters.
“The result of this rapid population growth has led to the emergence of structures and dwelling units devoid of toilets, water supply, proper drainage and sanitation,†said Kampala deputy mayor Florence Namayanja at the launch of the project in Africana Hotel recently.
She argued that the project would go a long way in improving the health and sanitary conditions of slum dwellers, who have been experiencing periodical cholera outbreaks since 1997.
KCC faced a challenge of environmental degradation in slums like Katanga, Kisenyi, Naguru, Bwaise and Kamwokya-Kifumbira, she noted.
“These places do not have adequate water supply, solid waste and excreta disposal facilities. The current tree cover in the city can not adequately provide shade, food, recreation, protection against wind, water catchments and green scenery,†said Namayanja.
The greening project will be implemented through community based organizations, which need to register before they can be trained on how to preserve the environment.