According to UN Habitat, over 50% percent of the world’s population is now living in cities. By the year 2050, the global population is projected to grow to 10 billion people, and 70% of these people will live on cities. In Africa the rate of urbanization stands at about 30%. In Uganda, the level of urbanization stands at 20% and it is projected to grow at a rate of 5.2%per annum. The future of humanity is inevitably urban.
Cities are engines of economic growth. Their importance is now widely recognized. They create employment opportunities, spur development and play a role in uplifting the living standards of people. Cities will greatly impact our future.
However, cities worldwide are faced with numerous challenges; enduring, dynamic and emerging challenges and for Uganda in particular, the situation is far from ideal.
With a population of about 3.5 million people, Kampala the capital city of Uganda is affected by unplanned urban sprawl. It is largely characterized by haphazard planning, pollution, congestion, environmental degradation, traffic jams, a proliferation of slums, inadequate physical and social infrastructure and a lack of social housing. The development trajectory of Uganda is also lopsided with Kampala and its metropolis at a much higher level of development while the rest of Uganda is at a much lower level.
This state of affairs informed a concerted campaign by urban leaders, planners and experts to compel the government of Uganda to create and develop other cities in addition to Kampala. The objective was to;
1. Decongest Kampala and allow it to regenerate.
2. Foster balanced regional development throughout the country.
3. To develop strategic cities in areas with distinct locational advantages.
Thus, on May 20, 2019, Uganda’s Cabinet approved the phased creation of 15 cities across the country. The cities were; Arua, Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Fort Portal, Mbale, Masaka, Wakiso, Entebbe, Hoima, Lira, Moroto, Nakasongola, Soroti and Kabale. Backed by resolutions from respective District Councils, the Ministry of Local Government presented bills in Parliament seeking a phased creation of cities. On April 28, 2020, the Parliament of Uganda approved the creation of 15 cities, ten of which were launched and are now operational.
However, all the newly created cities are characterized by governance and institutional deficiencies, urban planning deficiencies, weak economies, poor or non-existent city data systems, poor social and physical infrastructure, unfavourable living environment for children, refugees and vulnerable groups, low human capital, unemployment and a pronounced lack of requisite financial resources.Â
Most of the elected city leaders require support with capacity, skills and expertise to steer the development of these new cities. On the other hand, the technical officers appointed to manage the cities are incapacitated by insufficient funding, deficient data, lack of updated city physical development plans, poor or non-enforcement of planning regulations and lack adequate resources to align the new cities with the new urban agenda and the adoption of new global trends of smart technologies
This calls for strategic intervention by stakeholders to address the current gaps and deficiencies in order to steer the development of the new cities and the capital city Kampala and its metropolitan area.
Cities Consortium was therefore, born out of the pressing need to support the building of the new Uganda Cities and the regeneration of Kampala City and its Metropolitan Areas. Through research, education and trainings, provision of services and implementing city oriented programs, Cities Consortium plays a much needed role in supporting and facilitating the development of Uganda’s cities.
Through engaging with Cities Consortium, cities have an opportunity to share and exchange knowledge with local and international counterparts, test new solutions, building a greener, resilient and more prosperous future.
We leverage the collective vision and aspirations of the new cities to support and facilitate the envisioned social economic transformation guided by Uganda’s National Development Plans, the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda.
We are grateful to all stakeholders and recognize the role other organizations have played over the years in the urbanization agenda of Uganda. We therefore, seek not to replace but to complement their efforts in view of the fast changing environment; exponential urbanization, development gaps, enduring, dynamic and emerging challenges and the theory of change.
We welcome support and partnerships from Government of Uganda, International Development Agencies, Donors, NGOs, Cities and City Planners, Academicians and Urban Experts to support our vision and mission.
Most of the elected city leaders require support with capacity, skills and expertise to steer the development of these new cities. On the other hand, the technical officers appointed to manage the cities are incapacitated by insufficient funding, deficient data, lack of updated city physical development plans, poor or non-enforcement of planning regulations and lack adequate resources to align the new cities with the new urban agenda and the adoption of new global trends of smart technologies
