The Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, Lawrence Muganga, has called on government, political leaders and residents of Kampala to unite behind a common vision of transforming the capital into a modern smart city driven by technology and innovation.
Speaking on the future of Kampala, Muganga said urban transformation cannot succeed if leaders continue prioritising political divisions over development and service delivery.
“This city knows nothing like red, yellow, purple or green,” Muganga said. “It is for all of us, whether you are NRM, NUP, DP or any other political group. We share this city together.”
Muganga stressed that Kampala requires leadership focused on practical urban solutions capable of improving the quality of life for millions of residents.
“You go to the streets and you see they are straightened, sparkling clean. People have walkways. People ride bicycles on separate bike lanes. Pedestrians have where to pass. Traffic is guided intelligently,” he said while describing his vision of a modern Kampala.
He criticised the slow pace of innovation in Uganda’s urban management systems, arguing that many cities around the world have already embraced intelligent transport systems and digital technologies to reduce congestion and improve efficiency.
“In other countries, they do not have traffic officers manning traffic lights everywhere,” Muganga said. “It is because they innovated. We have become irresponsible as citizens and leaders because we do not want to innovate and create things that matter.”
The academic also highlighted the importance of reliable internet connectivity in building a smart city, saying digital infrastructure is essential for modern service delivery.
“We can together do this by adopting internet technologies like SpaceX internet,” he said. “Before I even tell you more about how this city can become smart, internet is needed.”
According to Muganga, many of Kampala’s traffic challenges are caused by people physically travelling across the city to access services that could instead be delivered digitally.
“There are people who spend three hours coming into the city and another three hours leaving just to process a permit or line up at a bank,” he noted. “We can do this smarter.”
He proposed digital appointment systems in banks and public institutions where citizens are allocated specific times for services instead of waiting in long queues.
“You don’t have to congest the city the whole day,” Muganga explained. “Someone can know they are number 27 and should arrive at exactly 1:30 p.m.”
Muganga further urged leaders across different institutions to support efforts aimed at modernising Kampala rather than politicising urban development initiatives.
“He is supposed to work for the residents of Kampala and everyone who frequents this capital city,” he said while emphasising the need for collective support toward city leadership and development programmes.
He expressed confidence that with cooperation between leaders, citizens and institutions, Kampala can evolve into a cleaner, technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable city capable of competing with modern capitals around the world.