Issues such as the rate of urbanization and how to address attendant development problems such as the expanding and unplanned slums have not really been discussed in depth, but poverty within urban areas (especially in slums) represents a significant development challenge.
As a result, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and their targets that aim at eradicating poverty, realizing environmental sustainability, achieving universal primary education, empowering women, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and fighting AIDS, malaria and other diseases – all features of slum life – can not be achieved under present circumstances in many urban areas and/or slums.
The formulation of a National Slum Upgrading Strategy will lead to a detailed policy framework on slums and an Action Plan that will provide a basis for a national effort towards the realization of these MDGs (particularly Goal 7, Target 11) that aims at improving the overall living conditions of the people living in slums.
Development objectives
The main focus of this initiative is the development of a National Slum Upgrading Strategy for Uganda that will provide a policy framework and an Action Plan for improvement of living conditions of people living in slums in line with Goal 7, Target 11 of the MDGs.
Key activities & expected results
A comprehensive slum upgrading strategy is demanded. This outcome will include a concrete Action Plan to regulate the growth of slums and which will guide the planning and implementation of the necessary interventions and programmes to improve the overall living conditions of the people living in slums.
Implementation phase
There has been progress in implementing key activities and expected results. The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has concluded regional consultative meetings in Masaka town, Busia town, Gulu town and Kampala, in which the different stakeholders in the study areas helped identify one slum settlement in each study area where the household surveys were conducted namely: - Kibe Zone in Kawempe - Kampala city; Katwe-Nyendo for Masaka Town; Aruabine settlement for Busia Town and Kony Paco and Limu settlements for Gulu Town. Household reports to be produced after the survey. A draft slum upgrading strategy has been prepared and is to be subjected to a national stakeholders review before the end of 2008. An Action Plan to operationalise the strategy is also under preparation. These outcomes will include concrete actions to regulate the growth of slums and guide the planning and implementation of the necessary interventions in slum areas and programmes to improve the overall living conditions of the people living in slums.
