KCCA launches shs7 trillion master plan to develop Kampala

Kampala Capital City Authority has launched as $1900million (approximately shs7 trillion) five-year strategic plan running from the 2020/21 to 2024/25 as authorities outlined efforts to focus on planning and developing Uganda’s capital

The strategic plan was launched by the Prime Minister, Dr.Ruhakana Rugunda at City Hall, the KCCA headquarters on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch, Rugunda expressed optimism that the grand plan will be achieved since a number of stakeholders in the city have been reached out for advice before coming up with the plan.

“This plan is a great pillar in achievement of our vision 2040 as the country seeks to transform from a low income to a middle income status. I am happy many stakeholders have been considered and this speaks to the pride of the NRM,” Rugunda said.

He noted that since the city is the gateway to the entire country, it is high time everyone joins hands in ensuring the strategic plan is achieved.

The Kampala Minister, Betty Amongi said in 10 years’ time, 40% of the country’s population will be living in cities and noted there is need to ensure the quality of life in cities is improved by stakeholders.

“The strategic plan is the framework to blend economic prosperity, quality of life and environment responsibility into a style of growth that makes every party of our city better, particularly during these difficult times,”Amongi said.

The KCCA Executive Director, Dorothy Kisaka noted that the five-year strategic plan is anchored into the Uganda Vision 2040 that has been premised on the need to transform the country into a modern prosperous country.

“Guided by the new strategic plan, we will now together build on the foundation laid as we aspire to scale new heights to meet the aspirations of the people of Uganda along a seven-point philosophy,” Kisaka said.

The deputy Kampala Lord Mayor, Doreen Nyanjura noted that the new plan will address a number of key issues that have not been addressed in the previous strategic plan including transport infrastructure, drainage and markets in Kampala.

“Kampala has a road network of 2100km with only 608 Km. This means that what we have is a dusty and potholed city. Our new plan places emphasis on paving more kilometers of roads so as to deal with the dust on the roads and as well fasten transport in the city,”Nyanjura noted.

She added that in the previous plan, five modern markets were supposed to be constructed but noted only one was achieved, whereas the second in Busega is not yet complete.

“I am saddened to report that the authority achieved only 30% of what was set out to be achieved in the last strategic plan. I must thus reiterate that the strategic plan that we launch today must deliver the vision we have for the city with key specific deliverables,” Nyanjura warned.

She highlighted a number of key issues that she said need to be given priority and achieved as a bare minimum including road construction, improving drainage, lighting city streets and a recycling plant for garbage.

The previous strategic plan drawn in 2014 and ended earlier  this year was worth shs5.59 trillion but only shs2.24 trillion was realized and this saw a big percentage of the plan not implemented.

The KCCA Executive Director, Dorothy Kisaka on Tuesday said the projects which had not been implemented in the previous strategic plan have been pushed to the new plan for implementation.