Uganda’s urban population is growing at an explosive rate of 5.2% annually, raising urgent questions about whether the country’s infrastructure and planning systems can keep up with the surging demand.
At the Uganda National Urban Development Conference held in Munyonyo, government officials, urban planners, and development partners agreed that without strategic foresight, Uganda’s cities could soon buckle under the pressure of unmanaged expansion.
Held under the theme “Accelerating Urban Development through Infrastructure: The USMID Experience”, the conference spotlighted the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme and its role in shaping urban transformation.
The urgency of the conversation was underscored by stark statistics presented by Isaac Mutenyo, the programme’s director, who painted a troubling picture of the country’s urban landscape.
“Only 11% of the urban road network is paved,” Mutenyo said, adding that just 8.2% of streets have lighting.
Informal transport still dominates urban mobility, with boda-bodas and minibuses accounting for the majority of public transport options.
Even more alarming, only 10% of urban councils have detailed physical plans, severely undermining their ability to manage growth or attract long-term investment.
“We are urbanising without growth,” he warned, emphasising that expanding cities without matching infrastructure investment was a recipe for economic stagnation and urban dysfunction.
Charles Napendo, president of the Society of Professional Physical Planners of Uganda, highlighted the specific challenge of stormwater management, particularly in Kampala.
Built on seven hills, the capital is increasingly plagued by flooding.
Napendo proposed a shift in thinking: harvesting stormwater through underground tanks for use in public infrastructure projects.
Such innovations, he argued, could mitigate flooding while turning a hazard into a sustainable water source.
Uganda’s urban footprint now includes one capital city, 10 regional cities, 31 municipalities, and 583 town councils—home to approximately 27% of the national population.
Yet these urban centres, from the largest to the most rural, face acute infrastructure shortages.
Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba acknowledged the scale of the problem, noting that “pressing funding challenges” had slowed progress.
She called for expanded resource mobilisation beyond traditional sources like the Road Fund, and urged Parliament and the Executive to allocate more resources to urban councils.
While recognising USMID’s achievements in areas like solid waste planning, Nabakooba said much more remained to be done.
She confirmed that Uganda’s national waste management policy was nearing completion, which she hoped would guide local governments toward more integrated and sustainable urban solutions.
Gen Katumba Wamala, speaking on behalf of President Museveni, backed legislation requiring all new developments to include proper water harvesting systems.
He echoed the President’s position that infrastructure is not just about roads and buildings—it is a catalyst for transformation.
“Urban centres are engines of prosperity,” Gen Wamala said.
“Let us use the roads, electricity, and peace we have built to drive wealth creation.”
He also urged local governments to support production among residents, enabling them to supply goods to urban markets and move from subsistence to commercial livelihoods.
President Museveni’s message reinforced the link between infrastructure and national development.
He called on leaders to think beyond political cycles and focus on the long-term task of shaping Uganda’s urban future into one that supports innovation, inclusivity, and economic resilience.
The conference brought together a diverse mix of voices—from technical planners to political leaders, from local officials to development partners—united in the conviction that urbanisation can be a powerful driver of prosperity.
But without robust planning frameworks, sufficient funding, and bold policy shifts, the risks are just as great.
The resounding consensus was that Uganda has little time to waste. With its cities expanding rapidly, the country faces a stark choice: plan smartly or be overwhelmed.
The challenge is enormous—but so is the opportunity to turn Uganda’s urban surge into a story of transformation, rather than turmoil.