Why not focus on rural investment?
SIR — Kampala is one of the most heavily populated districts in Uganda.This is because many people migrate from their mother districts to the capital city in search for greener pastures which include security, healthcare and education in the hope of getting better employment opportunities.
SIR — Kampala is one of the most heavily populated districts in Uganda.This is because many people migrate from their mother districts to the capital city in search for greener pastures which include security, healthcare and education in the hope of getting better employment opportunities.
During the 1980s, kampala’s population was less than a million people.
Relocating from Katakwi, Masindi, Masaka, Mbale and all rural districts has become the order of the day as there are no innovative activities ugandans are engaged in in the countryside.
Rural-urban migration was rare in the past because there were investments in these remote places. At least agriculture was one of the factors. farmers would grow both food and cash crops.
I remember those days how much money tobacco, coffee, sorghum and other cash crops would earn if one grew them on a large scale. Farmers had co-operative unions, ginneries and other orgnisations which would help market their produce.
They were already assured of the market if they invested in farming but all that has disappeared.
Farmers are giving up on agriculture because many of their products lack market. The prices of coffee, tobacco,cotton and vanilla have slumped on the world market with the introduction of synthetic fibres.
The government is trying hard to attract investment through peace talks to end the 20-year-long northern insurgency. But most of the land allocated to investors is in Kampala or Buganda, to be exact.
The ministry of planning and Economic development and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) should instead allocate them land in rural areas. If every district got some two or three factories, it would attract other social services like schools, healthcare and communication.
Besides, this would improve the infrastructure upcountry, especially roads. This would reduce congestion like traffic jams and slums and competition for social services which has many adverse effects like pollution.
Many Ugandans will be attracted back to rural areas in search of better jobs. many urban dwellers are either under-employed or unemployed. In fact, others are outright idlers on the streets!
The urban-rural migration strategy can work out if well-planned and implemented.
Alfred Byenkya
makerere University
During the 1980s, kampala’s population was less than a million people.
Relocating from Katakwi, Masindi, Masaka, Mbale and all rural districts has become the order of the day as there are no innovative activities ugandans are engaged in in the countryside.
Rural-urban migration was rare in the past because there were investments in these remote places. At least agriculture was one of the factors. farmers would grow both food and cash crops.
I remember those days how much money tobacco, coffee, sorghum and other cash crops would earn if one grew them on a large scale. Farmers had co-operative unions, ginneries and other orgnisations which would help market their produce.
They were already assured of the market if they invested in farming but all that has disappeared.
Farmers are giving up on agriculture because many of their products lack market. The prices of coffee, tobacco,cotton and vanilla have slumped on the world market with the introduction of synthetic fibres.
The government is trying hard to attract investment through peace talks to end the 20-year-long northern insurgency. But most of the land allocated to investors is in Kampala or Buganda, to be exact.
The ministry of planning and Economic development and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) should instead allocate them land in rural areas. If every district got some two or three factories, it would attract other social services like schools, healthcare and communication.
Besides, this would improve the infrastructure upcountry, especially roads. This would reduce congestion like traffic jams and slums and competition for social services which has many adverse effects like pollution.
Many Ugandans will be attracted back to rural areas in search of better jobs. many urban dwellers are either under-employed or unemployed. In fact, others are outright idlers on the streets!
The urban-rural migration strategy can work out if well-planned and implemented.
Alfred Byenkya
makerere University