University students draw out plans to upgrade slums

By Andrew Masinde                                    

Students of Makerere and Nkozi universities last week came up with appropriate plans to upgrade slums in Uganda, in a competition open to only current students and those who graduated in 2012-2013.

The students came up with different designs and essays highlighting how areas with poor housing in Uganda need to be organised.

The competition was organised by Shelter and Settlements Alternatives: (SSA:UHSNET) a network comprised of civil society organisations, communities, individuals, and private sector stakeholders.

The organizers worked towards a target of lobbying, advocating and sharing information for better policies, programs and practices towards sustainable improvement of human settlements in Uganda.

“The main purpose was to engage the students in creative thinking on urban mobility to improve conditions in areas with inadequate housing – and push for a move towards sustainable neighbourhoods,” said Brendah Luyiga, the Communications Officer.

Students were therefore expected to come up with innovative solutions to improve the rate of mobility and accessibility with focus on neighbourhoods with inadequate housing.

This was pushed to seize a future of sustainable neighbourhoods in Uganda.

After students submitting their essays and their plans, a panel of judges selected three authors who were rewarded with cash $1,000 (sh2.6m) and other prizes at the National Theatre Gardens in Kampala.