KCCA to upgrade slums in Kampala

By Andrew Ssenyonga     

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) are in final stages of planning to construct affordable housing units for low income earners in the city, Peter Kauju, the KCCA's director for public relations has said.   

According to Kauju, the housing units will be constructed in over 57 slum settlements located in the five divisions of Kampala that include central, Nakawa, Kawempe, Lubaga and Makindye.

"A number of slums in Kampala are heavily populated, characterised by substandard houses, social and economic isolation, irregular land ownership low standard of sanitation with limited access to basic infrastructure and social services," Kauju said.

He noted that the housing units will be constructed in Naguru, Nakawa, the doctors' village in Mulago and at Old Kampala SS. Other areas are Kireka, Nsambya Railways and Nsambya Police Barracks.

"At Naguru, the Government has already started the construction while others that are soon starting will be at the doctors' village Mulago and most of the land is owned by government," he explained.

The whole project is contained in the Kampala Physical Development Plan (KPDP), which covers the city's development between 2012 and 2040.

He added that in the plan, there is a proposal to construct 550,000 housing units of both reasonable high standard and basic standards by 2021 to meet projected high population growth.

"The $20b project will require that the rate of construction of non-muzigo housing be doubled and that all such additional construction be of reasonable standard," he said.

Kauju noted that they will not upgrade areas that are not owned by the government rather they will work hand in hand with the landlords to see that their properties are developed.

"We know most of the land in slums is owned by individuals who will be contacted to develop their properties so that we can phase away the slums in the city," he explained.

 He added that this will not be done forceful but through a dialogue so that there is harmony in the development of the city.

The authority's publicity said this will create access to the slums after the development an organised housing system.

 "This will make work for service providers like UMEME, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda National Road Fund to develop infrastructure in the areas easier," he said.

Kauju made the revelation during the annual health information sharing and dissemination event recently organised by Development, Research and Training (DRT) Makindye division, Kampala.

 He noted that they are mandated to provide services in the city, which includes delivery of health services, promoting and regulating appropriate waste and sanitation services.

"Poor sanitation is a major development obstacle in most informal settlements in Kampala and any improvements would lead to major health advances," he said.

At the same event, DRT announced an 18 month, Kampala health governance project that is implemented in the areas of Kibuli and Namuwongo in Makindye division.

Johnson Kagugube director DRT said the project is aimed at attracting the voices of slum dwellers in the health decision making processes.

"Enhancing the community based health governance mechanism through working with the village health facilitators in slums for an informed and vibrant community demanding for accountability and better health services from duty bearers," he explained.