1

KAMPALA JINJA EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

THIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IS BASED ON REPORTSFROM THE COURSE AAR4525 CONDUCTED IN UGANDA 2013

PLANING FOR ACTION-ACTION FOR PLANNING

2

THIS BOOKLET IS ABOUT WHAT MASTER STUDENTS CAN DO & LEARN FROM WORKING WITH PEOPLE

This extended executive summary gives a brief glance into what a group of national and international and students were able to achieve during two months of intensive work in Uganda in 2013. This is not a booklet presenting ‘student projects from Africa’ i.e. well-designed proposals grounded in good intentions, superficial understanding and selective knowledge. These projects are real.For a number of years we’ve had the privilege of cooperating with the National Federation of Slum Dwellers, Uganda (NSDFU). This year the relationship resulted in the students taking on feasibility studies and project proposals defined by ACTogether, the Federation’s administrative & technical NGO. These were real projects where funding was already committed, or they were early-stage projects where the Federation was looking for alternative approaches and models. These challenges were taken on by a multi-disciplinary group of 23 master students, some with years of practice, some straight out of university, from all together 10 different countries. 6 of the students, from architecture & planning, were enrolled as NTNU students for this semester from Makerere University. On account of the high number of students we had to split the group between Jinja, Uganda’s former industrial center and Kampala, the capital city each location given three projects. Both groups liaised with the local branch of the Federation and ACTogether. The thoroughness of their work emerged from going deep into their cases and their contexts. This required engaging with the slum dwellers themselves whose project they were set to investigate and prepare. Furthermore they had to interact with Senior and Chief Municipal officers in Jinja and high ranking KCCA representatives in Kampala, as well as independent professionals. And they drew benefits from our strong links to the Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development. The interaction with their principal client, the slumdwellers , but also with those holding administrative and political power is how students gain insights into ‘rules of reality planning’. We claim that insights are gained through personal discovery, not merely by being taught. This was more than confirmed. It emerged from acting responsibly, responsively as well as strategically, all of it deemed necessary in order to respond to the challenge they were given. The ‘added value’ we hope to have left behind to ACTogether and NSDFU are thus the composite results of the skills and professional knowledge we brought into the cases amalgamating with these in situ-gained insights. This is what distinguishes these students’ work from we above called ‘student projects from Africa’. As only a third of the students remained in Uganda and continues working there, the rest returned first to Norway and will subsequently go to other parts of the world. How may this semester in Uganda have enhanced their professional capacity? There is no clear answer to this, but former students claim a change in professional outlook, a deeper understanding of what the current urbanization wave requires in terms of appropriate interventions and planning measures, one much more aligned to the interests of the millions left disenfranchised by the ongoing urbanization processes. To act constructively as a planner in improving the lives of slum dwellers, the planner has to understand what makes these settlements tick. The students’ reports – of which this booklet is but a small excerpt – definitely show that some of this crucial understanding has emerged and shaped the proposals. Bingo!

Hans Skotte, prof., course executive Elena Archipovaite, lecturer, course teacher

4 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

fieldwork summary ...................................... 9

kampala..............................................................10laNd sHariNG ....................................................11saNiTaTioN .........................................................16kiNawaTaka markeT ........................................22

jiNja .....................................................................28HousiNG ..............................................................28saNiTaTioN .........................................................34BuildiNG maTerial TraiNiNG CeNTer .........40

refleCTioNs .......................................................46refereNCes .......................................................49

6 7

LOCATION

JINJAKAMPALA

KAMPALA CENTRAL

RUBAGA

NAKAWA

0 1 2 3 40.5km

Bwaise Kalimali Sanitation

Kalerwe Sanitation

Lubigi Waste Treatment PlantKinawataka Market

Kisenyi Land Sharing

JINJA

KAMPALA

8 9

NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NTNU) MSC IN URBAN ECOLOGICAL PLANNING (UEP) Fist semester fieldwork in Uganda, Fall 2013

The students were divided into six groups and given assignments, or projects, defined by our local partners, ACTogether and the National Slum Dwellers Federation of Uganda , three in Kampala and three in Jinja . In Kampala one team worked to finalize the feasibility phase of the Land Sharing Project which was started by our previous student group in 2011 and further explored by the a group of students fron The New School of New York in 2012. Our group analyzed financing options, explored design options, and proposed a work-plan for further development and implementation to support the work of the local architects who will follow up the work. A second team worked with the up-grading of the Kinawataka Market, conducting stakeholder analysis, developing planning options for the area while clarifying ownership issues and financial options and possibilities. The third team collected local and international information on sanitation issues in preparation for a large scale program of building sanitation structures throughout Kampala. They thus compiled a full-fledged catalogue of options for possible structures to be implemented. The first team in Jinja also worked on sanitation options for a similar, albeit smaller, sanitation program. Addressing the wider sanitation agenda the Kampala and Jinja teams they documented, analyzed and assessed alternative planning options. Together they compiled a sanitation tool kit that could assist stakeholders in implementation a new sanitation strategy for the urban areas of UgandaThe second Jinja team worked with local housing challenges. They analyzed existing housing and land strategies and documented existing housing projects. This was all done in close cooperation with the municipality and stakeholders involved in housing strategies in the past.Preparing for the realization of a planned Building Material Training Center was the third project in Jinja. This was a genuine feasibility study where the students also investigated economic assumptions underpinning the project. They made proposals for a phased realization and submitted recommendations on appropriate and sustainable technologies that could support skill and capacity development of communities in the area.

Students:Hailu Bereketab Wondesen (ET), Mohammadzadeh Attar Mehran (IR), Mohan Ashish (IN), Murungi Ronald (UG), Neupane Raju (NP), Nshemerirwe Fiona (UG), Sharma Riny (IN), Shukla Tryambakesh (NP), Sliwa Marcin (PL), Yudono Karina (ID), Syversen Tonje Steffensen (NO), Andersen Signe L (NO),Gunleiksrud Anders (NO), Hellebergshaugen Veronica (NO), Næss Kanutte (NO), Prier Megan (NO), Vrebos Hanne ((BE), Kisembo Teddy (UG), Okia Patrick (UG), Nalule Harriet (UG), Oburah Doryne (UG), Tusubira Solomons (UG), Turinayo Abigail (UG), J. Okoth Lawrence (UG).Teachers: Hans Skotte, NTNU; Elena Archipovaite, NTNU; Peter Kasaija, Makerere University & Mari Sjaastad, Engineers Without Borders Norway/Norconsult a/s Disciplinary background: geography, architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, product design.Partners: ACTogether /National Slum Dwellers Federation of Uganda, Makerere University: College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology; College of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesSupport: UN-HABITAT

10 11

LAND SHARING IN KAMPALA

Land SharingLand tenure becomes crucial aspect for development. Most of the urban populati on in developing countries doesn’t have access to land due to their low income levels and high land price. As a result the infl ux of people living in informal sett lements keeps on increasing. People living in these areas are always vulnerable to forced evicti on because of conti nuous eff orts of the developing agencies to make city look bett er. Because these sett lements lack the basic characteristi cs of so called formal sett lement they become easy target.

Planning tools like land sharing becomes one of the soluti ons to these, as it helps in transiti oning informal sett lement to formal one. In land sharing, landowner comes into an agreement with the benefi ciaries and developers on land and the agreement made has to ensure that no parti es involved are aff ected in anyway.

Kisenyi IIILocated in South Western part of Kampala´s central business district Kisenyi is one of the largest informal sett lements in Kampala. It is also one of the most thriving areas of the city because of its vibrant economic acti viti es. But because of its informal nature the area faces conti nuous threats of evicti on.

So one of the local NGOs, ACTogether and Slum Dwellers Internati onal with one of the land owners Haaji Mulangwa in the area, started exploring opti ons against the evicti on. They came up with idea of using land sharing method on the land owned by Haaji. The area is residenti al place for more than 100 tenants including 21 structure owners and consists of residenti al and commercial acti viti es.

MethodThe project started with fi nding the missing components in the work done ti ll now, so that project can move forward on the same ground. First fi eld work on the project area was started by NTNU`s 2011-13 batch followed students from New School of New York in early 2013.

KisenyiRubaga

Kampala Central

Kawempe

Nakawa

Makindye

12 13

What we were supposed to do Our scope for the fi eldwork was limited to the extent of management and design aspects of the project, which includes:• Assessment of project assumpti on in design and

economic aspects.• Development of project development/

implementati on plan. • Building relati onship with technical persons/

insti tuti ons that can support the project.• Conti nue to strengthen the relati onship with

government Insti tuti ons like KCCA and MOLHUD.

Approach followedBefore going into the details of the project we all decided to develop the framework in such a way that there will be no permanent displacement of people from the area. First step we did is to rename the project which will refl ect this objecti ve, therefore we came up with the name In-Situ Redevelopment. As the name suggests

there will conti nuous development with simultaneous resett ling the habitants on the same area.So we developed a set of guiding questi ons which divided it into three inter-related secti ons: 1) design 2) fi nance 3) implementati on from the view point of existi ng dwellers to make sure that these people suff er minimum tangible or intangible losses.

Proj

ect T

imel

ine

Finance

Design

Size and Number of the Unitss

Type of mix uses

Aff ordability

Recovery cost

Minimum Displacement Implementati on

Project components Guiding Principals

38

Introducti on to Uganda Arrival

Site analysis Collecti ng data by FGDConsultati on with Knight Frank Consultati on with De-Zyn Architecture

Briefi ng by ACTogether and the chairmanVisiti ng Kisenyi

TimelineApproachesProject PlanningDesktop researchEvaluati ng previous work

40 4139

Working in resett lement plan scenarioStakeholders and Financial analysis

Timeline of development

Working on the Lay outsFinishing Density ScenarioIdenti fying Potenti al Financing

Week Off

Presentati onDeparture to Norway

45444342

Site DesignSince project will have to include two development proposals one for the land owner and one for the other inhabitants, so we came out with several opti ons for how the land would be shared and these were in

respect to the needs of land owner and project. Further in deciding over the land use numerous factors like locati on, surrounding development, master plan of the city and aff ordability of the units were taken into account.

In S

itu D

evel

opm

ent

14 15

Another deciding factor for design was the affordability i.e how the dwelling units can be made affordable for the people. Considering the nature of project there was three ways of doing 1) either my making unit sizes smaller 2) by cross-subsidising it with commercial units 3) having the mix of both 1 and 2. In the project context we decided to go with third option as reduces the cost of a unit by 200 USD per sq.m.

‘We don’t need the size of 35 sqm, right now we are living in 9 sqm unit. We will be happy to have a unit of 15 sqm with shared facilities of kitchen and sanitation.’A resident of Kiti zone, Kisenyi

Considering the above statement we started wondering about the size of dwelling units. As per by laws and public health regulations of Uganda we found out that for a family of six, minimum habitable unit size is 35 sq.m. Taking the overall construction cost at 300 USD per sq.m the cost of this unit would be around 10,500 USD. So the question arises for a family which earns 1,150 USD annually will this unit be affordable. After discussions with the community members we came

down to conclusion that why cannot we have the mix of variable unit sizes of 15, 21 and 36 sq.m so that even family in lowest income spectrum can dream of buying their dream house. But this would have require changes in by laws and regulations, so we came up with idea of having special planning area for the project so that the rules can be changed, but this will require the approval of governing agencies like KCCA, so we came up with two development proposals one by following by laws and another the case of special planning area so that a comparison can be made between the two scenarios and need for the changes in by-laws can be understood.

Implementation PlanImplementation plan plays an important role in keeping the objective for these kind of project intact. And our main challenge was to find out how this project can be implemented with no eviction and minimum disruption of livelihood of the residents? The solution we came up with is to break down the construction phases and have a simultaneous resettlement plan along with the construction. An analysis was done to establish the sequence of phase wise construction.

ACTIVITY/DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1

• This phase started with the development of a relatively “free” area represented by the color code blue

• After phase 1 development, tenants in the purple area are relo-cated to the completed phase 1 before phase 2 commences

Phase 2

• Phase 2 comprises of development in the purple areas.

• These are commercial and mixed use developments

• All tenants in the red area are relocated to the purple area (com-pleted phase 2) and to the blue area (completed phase 1)

Phase 3

• Development of the road

• Developments are done in the orange area

• These are mixed use and residential developments

• All tenants in the orange area are relocated to the orange area (completed phase 3)

Phase 4

• Residential development in the yellow area

Phase 1

Phase 4

Phase 3

Phase 2

Financial analysisIn order to understand the two cases: • special planning area • following by-laws

We did a cost benefit analysis based on the resettlement plan, cash flows in each of the phases and a series of various assumptions. The benefit cost ratio for special planning area came out to be 1.06 with project cost recovery period in between 16 to 17 years and for the scenario following by-laws, it was 1.19 with same recovery period.

Scenario 1

Key Assumptions:Public Sector Discount Rate 2013: 16.00%Appraisal period (years): 20

Summary of the Results of the Analysis:Capital Costs: $1,414,400Whole of Life Costs: $3,826,962Present Value of Benefits: $3,262,458Present Value of Costs: $3,076,391Benefit Cost Ratio: 1.06Net Present Value: $186,067

Scenario 1

Key Assumptions:Public Sector Discount Rate 2013: 16.00%Appraisal period (years): 20

Summary of the Results of the Analysis:Capital Costs: $1,414,400Whole of Life Costs: $1,902,285Present Value of Benefits: $2,094,866Present Value of Costs: $1,762,819Benefit Cost Ratio: 1.19Net Present Value: $332,047

The Way ForwardFor the project, it’s important that one should go for having the site declared as special planning area as development in this case will provide more housing units to low income dwellers in the city where no effort has been made to provide house at affordable rate.

16 17

INTRODUCTIONWe were commissioned to investi gate sanitati on issues in Kampala’s slums and propose suitable low-cost toilet unit designs. This may sound like a straight forward topic which can be solved by applied engineering, yet it was not so easy. Getti ng the technology and fi nancing right was not enough, it was more complex than it seemed.

Access to adequate sanitati on is among the most basic human needs that apply to everyone. Yet many people, especially in the developed world, take sanitati on for granted. For many of us it is just a part of our daily routi ne; with no need to spend ti me worrying about it. It may seem that it is simply ‘given’ and that ‘someone’ takes care of providing water and treati ng our waste.

This does not apply to slums in Kampala, where lack of proper sanitati on is a serious issue which causes disease and can make living conditi ons unbearable. The worst is that the problem is rapidly accelerati ng, as urban populati on in Kampala increases faster than ever before.

Defi ciency of sanitati on faciliti es and services is adressed by the internati onal community,

but so far none of their diff erent interventi ons provide a

simple and

SANITATION KAMPALA

eff ecti ve soluti on. Slum dwellers have seen the need to take direct acti on to improve their own situati on. Through community mobilizati on and saving groups, like the ones organized in Kampala by ACTogether, they construct and operate new faciliti es. However, this is only a drop in the ocean.

This is where we come into the picture. By working directly with and for the poor communiti es, we att empt to help them identi fying what works well, what does not work at all and what more could be done to raise the sanitati on standards and make it more accessible.

METHODOur topic was very broad and touched upon a lot of diff erent themes; therefore we had to use a variety of qualitati ve and quanti tati ve methods in our research which made our fi eld work even more interesti ng. Some of the methods used in the project include meeti ngs with diff erent stakeholders, informal interviews, site visits in diff erent slums in Kampala, research on relevant policy, analysis of informal sett lements’ enumerati on data provided by local communiti es as well as design and mapping exercises.

SANITATION OVERVIEWSanitati on problems in Kampala are closely related to the city’s topography. During the colonial ti mes, most of its urban development took place on seven hilltops, leaving the valleys in between as forests and open areas. However, when Kampala’s populati on skyrocketed in the second half of the 20th century, new informal sett lements started to develop in those low-laying areas and wetlands.

Only 7% of all Kampala’s residents are connected to a sewer network, which covers mainly the central area (KCCA, 2012). Very few slums have toilets connected to sewer pipes; therefore most of the city relies on on-site faciliti es, especially primiti ve pit latrines (see Map 1) in which feces are dumped into unsealed holes. The problem is that those low-laying informal sett lements experience frequent fl ooding, have poor drainage and a high ground water table, all of which makes water mix with human waste and garbage, causing contaminati on, health risks and bad odor.

In the worst cases when slum dwellers have a very limited access to any kind of toilet faciliti es, even those unhygienic, self-built pit latrines, they need look for other alternati ves. It is esti mated that around 22% of all households in informal sett lements are practi cing open defecati on (ACTogether, 2013), which literarily means dumping their waste just outside of their homes.

Pit latrineEcosanFlush

TOILET TYPE

0 1 2 3 40.5km

< 1011 - 2021 - 3031 - 40> 50

OPEN DEFECATION (%)

0 1 2 3 40.5km

Map 1: Most common toilet types

Map 2: Households practi cing open defecati on (%)

18 1919

TECHNOLOGYThe following toilet technologies were identi fi ed as applicable in Kampala’s slums: • Traditi onal pit latrine• Elevated Venti lated improved pit latrine (V.I.P.) • Elevated Pour fl ush latrine• Double-pit latrine• Water borne toilet• Bio gas / Urine diversion dry toilet (UDDT)

Density

Water Table

User Profile

Eviction Risk Type

High Community Institutions Markets

Residents (Private) Illegal Squatters Public (Open)

Low

High LowMedium

High Low

Recommended sanitation options

OPTIONS ASSESSMENTThe next step in our analysis was to match the appropriate technologies and proposed unit designs to a set of representati ve informal sett lement types and user profi les in Kampala. This was done by identi fying the most important criteria that make some soluti ons work bett er than others, for example whether it has to be a public or private toilet, what is the sett lement’s populati on density, if there is any evicti on threat in the area, how deep is the ground water table and whether there is a chance or willingness to get the toilet connected to the sewer network. All this informati on needs to be collected before the best technology choice and design is chosen.

price for water is much higher than what was originally set by the government. Other municipal services are also expensive, so slum dwellers are hesitant to get their faciliti es connected to the sewer network or they do not empty their pits and septi c tanks when they fi ll up.

Finally, the ineffi ciency of solid waste collecti on also contributes to the problem, as pits, septi c tanks, pipes and drainage channels get easily clogged with garbage, which then require frequent and expensive repairs.

CHALLENGESDuring our research, we identi fi ed a number of challenges which make it so diffi cult to develop sanitati on faciliti es that would bring dignity, safety and hygiene to people of Kampala.

First of all, it needs to be stressed that there is no integrated policy document in Uganda that would address the real sanitati on problems and propose a realisti c plan to solve them in the future. There are many insti tuti ons and actors which have some responsibiliti es and roles in the water and sanitati on sector, but their competences are oft en unclear or overlapping. There are very few cases in which those insti tuti ons collaborate to implement projects and initi ati ves together.

Another set of issues relates to the lack of proper planning and access to land. Illegal squatti ng and unresolved land ownership issues are very common in Kampala’s informal sett lements, which then may lead to evicti ons. It is understood that residents, governments and NGOs are hesitant to invest large amounts of money in sanitati on faciliti es before those issues are resolved. In cases when people struggle to secure adequate shelters for themselves, sanitati on becomes a secondary priority. The most common types of rentals in Kampala’s slums are the single-room “muzigo” dwellings, which may be occupied by up to 4-6 people. Rent for those units usually does not include access to any form of toilet faciliti es.

Further, there are challenges related to aff ordability of water, pit emptying and sewage disposal. Access to water in slum areas is oft en limited to communal taps, which means that users need to pay by demand. The rates they pay may diff er from area to area, but in general the

LESSONS LEARNEDBefore we started working on soluti ons and design proposals, we visited a number of toilets in diff erent slum areas to fi nd out what other issues need to be considered. Some of them are explained below:

• Toilets require fi nancial management plans to ensure their uninterrupted long-term functi oning• Proper esti mati on of daily usage should be incorporated in the planning process in order to get the scale of the unit right and help deciding on the locati on• Community members (especially women) that are involved in the fi nancing, design and implementati on process tend to take a bett er care of their toilets in the long term • Security measures may be necessary to prevent crime (stealing, vandalism, sexual harassment), especially at night• Sanitati on improvement among the poor is only possible when accompanied by campaigns promoti ng health and hygiene• Some communiti es may be hesitant to environmentally friendly toilet technologies, as they may not accept that their waste could be reused for composti ng or biogas for cooking so there may be no market for the end products

20 21

CONCLUSIONSWorking on sanitati on issues in Uganda has defi nitely been a life changing experience for us; not only because we learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t, but also because we could realize the disparity in living conditi ons, which then made us appreciate what we have. This fi eldwork inspired us to take further acti on to improve quality of life of all those people who suff er from lack of sanitati on and hygiene and other basic human needs.

Time is passing by, but some things will never change, like our biological needs. Therefore our general

recommendati ons for the improvement of sanitati on are: long term thinking, getti ng the users involved, and making sanitati on a priority in decision making. Sanitati on should no longer be a taboo, especially if it is defi cient, like the example from Kampala shows.

We feel very fortunate to be given an opportunity to parti cipate in the fi eld work in Uganda and make a contributi on. Having any of our proposals realized would defi nitely be a great reward and encouragement for us and anyone else who would like to have a real impact. We would defi nitely recommend all of you to take part in similar projects in the developing countries.

Kisenyi III Solid waste clogging drainage in Kalerwe Disconnected water tap in Kalerwe

DESIGNSBased on the collected informati on, we developed three design proposals for toilet units in low-income neighborhoods.

Design 1 : Elevated Compact Double Pit Toilet for high-density residenti al sett lements with high water table

• Size: 2 stances, assumed 50 users, 2 showers• Incremental• Requires litt le maintenance

Design 2 : Elevated Pour Flush Toilet with Septi c Tank for more established medium-density residenti al sett lements with high water table

• Size: 4 stances, assumed 100 users• Caretaker may be present - opportunity for additi onal income• Adverti sing• Rainwater harvesti ng

Design 3 : Pour-Flush Biogas Public Toilet for marketplaces, public spaces or high density residenti al sett lements

• Size: 4 stances, 1 handicap, assumed 250 users, 2 showers, 2 urinals, 2 sinks• Caretaker is present – opportunity for additi onal income• Incremental• Bio gas can be used to lit security lights at night• Rainwater harvesti ng• May act as a centre for acti vity and environmental learning for children

for marketplaces, public spaces or high density

• Size: 4 stances, 1 handicap, assumed 250

• Caretaker is present – opportunity for

• Bio gas can be used to lit security lights at

• May act as a centre for acti vity and

Based on the collected informati on, we developed three design proposals for toilet units in low-income

for high-density residenti al sett lements with high water

• Size: 2 stances, assumed 50 users, 2 showers

• Size: 4 stances, assumed 100 users• Caretaker may be present - opportunity for additi onal income• Adverti sing• Rainwater harvesti ng

22 23

Markets in Uganda

Historically, markets in Uganda are open-air in nature characterized by temporary, permanent, semi-permanent or no structures at all, depending on the context and whether or not it is located in an area gazetted for the activity. With the expansion of the population, growth of the economy and overall development of the country, newer markets have continued to spring up in upcoming suburbs and urban centers, albeit constructed with temporary/semi-permanent structures. However, the current trend for new emerging/redeveloped markets in Uganda is the construction of market halls, which is being driven by high land market values coupled with the new transformation of the city. However, this trend is not accommodative of low income market vendors.

To understand the importance of market redevelopment projects to the country, it needs to be noted that the Ugandan economy is dependant and dominated by agriculture, and of the population of over 27 million people (est. 2005), 85% live in the rural areas and mainly depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.(Kata, 2006) Therefore the state’s focus on market infrastructure development has been heavily influenced by the need to market agricultural produce internally and enhance the income of the 85% dependent on agriculture as a source of livelihood. This has been made possible through financial commitment, policy development and the creation of conducive working environments that foster strong partnerships between different development partners. Despite these efforts, the government is still grappling with the main challenges of insufficient funding for market infrastructure upgrades coupled with unresolved land ownership issues. (KCCA, 2012)

The development of these market infrastructures is one way of addressing the question of urban food insecurity in cities. In Uganda the existing food security policy relates only to the rural agricultural sector. Therefore, for the case of the urban poor community, the key issues that arise with regard to food security are the need to bring markets closer, making them accessible to everyone, and the need to ensure that food prices are favorable for the average buyer. (Brown, 2013) The approach to this project involved; the understanding of the different stakeholders and their expectations, analysis of different case studies, analysis and understanding of the site and context, all this leading to the development of a new design proposal for Kinawataka market.

Kinawataka market

This section summarizes actions undertaken to plan for the redevelopment of Kinawataka Market located in Kinawataka, an informal settlement found in Mbuya I - Nakawa Division, east of Kampala the capital city of Uganda in Africa. For more than 20 years this market, which consists of 126 business premises divided into stalls and lock-ups, has served the local communities of Mbuya, Kinawataka and some parts of Banda.(ACTogether, 2012) In addition to being important for the supply of food to the neighborhood, the market also employs more than 120 vendors and is therefore an important source of livelihood in the neighborhood.

However, Kinawataka market currently has a poor customer base due to lack of visibility, the deplorable state of the market stalls and narrow circulation passage ways. It also doesn’t live up to the standards for markets set by the planning authorities. The project therefore sheds light on the complex needs of markets in low-income communities especially that of redevelopment that seeks to maintain the social structures of the market vendors and the community, as opposed to resettlement to a new site. As part of a strategic plan for an inclusive city, it also seeks to demonstrate other alternatives to eviction, mainly through creation of partnerships between the community, planning authorities, concerned ministries and other stakeholders.

24 25

In response to the ever changing needs of the vendors and users of the market, it is designed to be fl exible in character. The design also incorporates key issues of;

•Access•Visibility•Circulati on•Waste management

needs and the changing face of the citi es we live in•The need to create a public market that is much more than successful commercial enterprise but also draws the community in by functi oning as a successful public space – a “place” •Retenti on of a sense of connecti on with the outdoors on all sides of the market•Visibility of the energy inside the market by uti lizing the structure of the building to create a sense of openness and draw people in from the surrounding area•Creati on of an interior courtyard into which the market stalls open up, allowing people to fl ow freely between the diff erent functi onsThe new proposal for Kinawataka market approaches the design of the market from the larger context, ensuring the market is not alien or opposing within its site. As such, the new design ‘grows’ from its site and is infl uenced by diff erent factors in the immediate neighborhood.

Narrow corridors Poor surface treatment Low roofs

An upgrade of Kinawataka market will contruibute to reducti on of pressure on the central markets of Kampala.

APPROACHIn analysis of the site and context, diff erent studies were carried out: a neighborhood study, land-use study, microclimati c study and sensory study. These studies aided the understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, opportuniti es and threats of the site.

The diff erent case studies analyzed provided diff erent ideas that could be integrated into the proposal for Kinawataka market. These included; •The provisions of diff erent functi ons within a market, adding more faciliti es that the neighborhood needs•Recycling of waste generated in the market•The need to focus att enti on on community parti cipati on•The need to plan for and design public markets that are fl exible in nature and can easily adapt to new user

MoLHUD, MoLG- Streamlining the project to nati onal regulatory frameworks and standards

KCCA- Source of revenue- Reduce pressure on central markets- Reduce dependency on motorized transport for access to basic products- Safety and sanitati on for public health- Project to be in tandem with KPDP

ACTogether, SDI, NSDFU- Slum upgrading- Improved structure and infrastructure layout- Secure tenure- Diversify the market- Formalize the marketplace- Increase security of businesses and occupants- Act as a catalyst for further development- Facilitate community partners- Cost effi ciency

Market vendors- More customers, leading to more income and a bett er source of livelihood- Bett er management- Form of organizati on- Security of tenure- Security of merchandize- Revenue from leasing out spaces

Lokal Council, Nakawa Division- Act as a catalyst for further development- Improved livelihood of the community- Increased land values

Expe

ctati

ons

of d

iff er

ent s

take

hold

ers

Micro-climate studySun pathBreeze directi on

Sun pathBreeze

Site

Sensory studyViewsSoundsSmells

Undesirable views of context.Create pleasant views into site.

NodesTraffi c confl ict pointsAccess routes

Neighborhood study

26 27

WAY FORWARDFinancing of the project will depend upon a concerted eff ort from all the stakeholders in many ways either human resource i.e. labor from the vendors and the community, fi nancial resource from SUUBI development initi ati ve, urban poor fund from SDI, a private investor and KCCA availing land for the market development.

In conclusion a way forward is developed that looks into the need to streamline the unresolved market land ownership and transfer issues, understand the management operati on of the market that highly rely upon the vendors associati on and the need to go deeper into detailed design specifying the layout and diff erent functi ons.

26

The design of this new proposal is based on the understanding of how an example of a farmer’s market stall functi ons. The nature of the stall gives the vendor great fl exibility with regard to the display of his goods. Reinterpreti ng this into the design of the market, the market is understood as one big stall consisti ng of and formed by a structural shell. This shell would then be gradually fi lled-in with the diff erent functi ons the market contains.

This approach to design leads to the formati on of an incremental market. The use of a structural shell ensures that the open-air character of the current market is maintained albeit reinterpreted. The lockups and other functi ons contained within the storey structure can then be slipped in as cubes of a more economical and light-weight material that can easily be adapted to the changing needs of the vendors. The use of the shell ensures maximum fl exibility as far use and gradual expansion of the market are concerned whilst minimizing costs of constructi on and operati on.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

28 29

Land is a crucial aspect in the development of any area, not only as a means of production. Everything is land based, particularly housing. Hence, if land is not regulated it can result in housing problems which is mostly the case in Uganda. Though in Jinja the land is regulated and is under control of the Municipality, there are still many issues because of no National Policy for Land. This poses greater problems while providing housing for low income earners especially in a place like Jinja where 80 percent of the population is poor. Though the government tried following the ‘enabling approach’ to provide affordable housing and improved living conditions for the poor, it has done so in a very passive way and hence failed to implement it successfully. Affordable housing can be defined in so many ways that we decided to develop a framework for understanding the concept, in the context of Jinja. It helped us understand the implications of the government’s actions on the community in general and provided us a path towards giving relevant recommendations.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN JINJA

It’s not our responsibility

30 31

When we went to Kawama, the housing project we worked on, we found that the project is almost at a standstill resulting from conflicts and misunderstandings between different stakeholders. Hence, it was important for us to understand the dynamics of the project first, before proceeding to giving out any suggestions. For this we looked into two case study housing projects for low income earners, in Masese and Mpumudde. They were relevant because of the fact that they all aimed at low cost affordable housing, had Savings Groups in each project and involved almost the same stakeholders apart from donor organisations. By doing this we dug deep into what made each community work. Though all the projects had unique characteristics, the case study method helped us generalise some concepts on affordable housing. By doing this we were able to foresee the future of Kawama if the ways of working of different stakeholders continued in the current pattern. In the course of our study we discovered that the housing in Kawama was not so affordable and suggested ways to improve this situation in the future.

INTRODUCING KAWAMA

32 33

The best way to achieve aff ordable housing in the case of Kawama is Incremental housing. We have only reintroduced this concept because the local government has already tried working on it but failed because not much thought was put into it. In our recommendati ons the residents are free to extend their houses according to their fi nances and ti me. They have lesser dependence on each other which is not the case in current design. The most important factor in low cost housing is fl exibility in the house design and in site planning. The house should allow for individual choices to build, design and also to choose it’s purpose. For example, in our proposed designs, the houses can be extended at people’s convenience and they also provide opportunity to use the extended spaces as commercial spaces to generate employment. Flexibility should also refl ect in the site plan. It should allow for free movement and equal access for everyone, facilitate community interacti ons and be adaptable to people’s choices to generate income, be it farming on site or

opening small shops. The current plan does not take into account the local topography or dimensions of site, which is an indispensable part of site planning. It could further trigger the expenditure for Municipality because of higher maintenance costs for various services which depend on topography. The training in constructi on skills that are currently given to the community will also be helpful to achieve incremental housing. Such skills should be integrated with current housing project to generate employment opportuniti es for the community. Our recommendati ons have been open and fl exible throughout. We looked into the dynamics of Kawama project and gave suggesti ons suitable for the site, unlike conventi onal planning approach. We felt that in order to make a project successful, it is important to identi fy its uniqueness but also to learn from the success stories of other projects. For us, a combinati on of both paved the way to recommend incremental housing for the ‘poorest of the poor’ in Jinja.

Clear contractsMoU signed before anything startsDocumented secure tenure human dignity

People need to own their house and the land

When it’s their private property, they want to take care of it..

Nati onal subsidies are essenti al

They can come under the form of land or fi nancial support on a demand driven base.

Let people parti cipate in the design of public space

This will lead to higher awareness & commitment

Services & infrastructure need to be designed to

Electricity, sanitati on, roads, water, schools and health centers

Housing doesn’t stop when it’s built

Lack of maintenance and management can put the project to risk

Open knowledgeAccess to informati on can lead to selbuild and can sti mulate initi ati ve

Collect informati onGood planning requires accurate informati on on the site (boundaries, topology,...)

Garbage for life

Waste management can become livelihood

Water should be a resource, not a hazard

Rainwater can be used to harvest or for irrigati on

Importance of locati onLocati on defi nes market opportuniti es. Transportati on means & proximity to services, jobs and shops.

Grow localOn site, small scale agriculture can lead to a diversity of crops and provide jobs and income

M.T. Diniz (Informal Toolbox)

WHAT CAN BE DONE...

33

34 35

EXCISTINGSANITATION

PROPOSED SITES

RUBAGAMASESERIPONKISIMALOCOE.WALUKUBA W.WALUKUBA KIMAKA

INTRODUCTIONSafe sanitati on is a universal, daily human need and basic right. With about 2.5 billion people across the world lacking access to safe sanitati on and the connecti on between poor sanitati on and waterborne disease, sanitati on is an essenti al, urgent challenge for development (UN). An enumerati on report conducted by ACTogether (2012) found limited access to water and sanitati on in Jinja’s sett lements. Jinja Municipal Council (JMC) eff orts to improve sanitati on focus on expanding the centralized Nati onal Water and Sewerage Corporati on (NWSC) waterborne sewerage network. Although commonly adopted as the soluti on to sanitati on in urban centres of the developing world, centralized supply-driven piping networks are water and energy intensive, expensive and logisti cally diffi cult (UNESCAP). The TSUPU Programme (Transforming the Sett lements of the Urban Poor) has also recently initi ated projects in Jinja that include sanitati on units in four the city’s sett lements. TSUPU projects are funded by the World Bank and executed through a collaborati on between JMC and the Nati onal Slum Dwellers Federati on of Uganda (NSDFU). HOW - METHODOLOGYWe started by evaluati ng sanitati on in Jinja today through case studies of sanitati on units and analysis of city-wide sanitati on practi ces and programmes. Our analysis was informed by site visits, discussions with savings’ groups and residents, meeti ngs with municipal offi cials and review of toilet design drawings, bills of quanti ti es and caretaker records. We then derived a set of seven criteria for success, that we believe must all be met to implement and sustain sanitati on projects in sett lement communiti es.

SANITATION JINJA

36 37

[drainage]

[Ripon sanitation]

[Masese sanitation]

[Rubaga sanitation]

[ecosan Kisima]

[water harvesting]

[each stance is allocated to a housing unit]

In general, the observed failures of these projects speaks to the limited scope of implementation that fails to see projects holistically with a long-term perspective and fails to acknowledge the importance of adapting to the socio-economic context into which projects are placed. The criteria we consequently developed were therefore not focused on the physical construction of the building, but highlight the importance of appropriate design for a given community and planning for post-construction management. Our criteria are as follows: location and scale, appropriate technology, economy, ownership, security, health and awareness and stakeholders and partnerships.

Our analysis and criteria also respond to the limitations of the existing procedures of project implementation. Currently, projects are initiated only when there is external funding and the process ends with physical construction. In general, stronger emphasis needs to be placed on community involvement and long-term management, demand-driven projects and monitoring and evaluation. Funding agencies need to allow more flexibility and time for participatory processes.

The criteria then drove our development of city and site level recommendations. We created site-specific designs and maintenance programmes for four of the TSUPU projects sites, which were also informed by discussions with community members and successful projects elsewhere in Uganda and the world. For each site we designed several different options with preliminary cost estimates to encourage a comparative discussion. TODAY - CASE STUDIES & JINJA CONTEXTThere are a number of sanitation units recently constructed in Jinja by the NSDFU and other NGOs. Despite the large budget of the NSDFU toilets, they have largely failed to substantially improve access to sanitation. All have experienced a large discrepancy between expected and realized profits and users that can be attributed to poor location, limited sensitization, high pay-per use fees and the presence of alternative, if poor, toilet facilities. And a lack of evaluation of the unit in Masese enabled its almost exact replication in Ripon despite clear faults.

However, the project built with community contracting in Rubaga market shows that incorporating the community in the design and building process increases security and sense of ownership. The ecosan toilet on Kisima Island, also shows that cultural resistance to new technologies can be bridged with proper sensitization and communities are strong enough to collectively manage toilets.

Expected annual pro�tConstruction CostRealized pro�t

Mill

ion

Uga

ndan

Shi

lling

05

101520253035404550

[Rubaga profits]

38 39

CONCLUSIONExisting sanitation policies and projects are failing to meet the basic need of Jinja’s poorest residents. It is essential for JMC to critically evaluate their existing focus on waterborne sewerage and consider supplementing the existing piping network with cost-effective, decentralized alternatives appropriate for poor settlements. This demands redefining human “waste” as a resource, rethinking the convention of waterborne sanitation and re-engineering waste management into a cyclical resource management. We hope our work can inspire exploration and innovation towards a development path that is defined by and for the entire community of Jinja.

superstructureplywood, papyrus, recycled jerrycans, ferrocement, canvas, etc. stretched on a wooden framepitBurnt or interlocking brick with concrete slabunit size5 stances, assumed 120 users per unit (4 families per stance)pit life2 yearspit depth2,5 meters

DOUBLE PIT COMPOSTING – TEMPORARY SUPERSTRUCTURE

CITY LEVEL RECOMMENDATIONSJMC and NWSC must acknowledge both their limited financial and managerial capacity and fundamental responsibility to provide basic sanitation to all of Jinja. This suggests a restructuring of municipal policies and financial planning to reduce dependency on donors and creatively use existing resources to extend basic safe sanitation to as much of the population as possible. Donor funds can then be used to strategically support ongoing programmes instead of replacing them.

This requires financial resourcefulness, accountability and partnerships with local organizations and experts to share responsibility and knowledge. Available money should be used creatively to support the entire process with emphasis on creating incentives for reusing waste as an economic resource and diversified waste treatment at different scales. The NWSC network is arguably appropriate for the town center, but should be supplemented with clustered and decentralized sanitation solutions in outlying areas and poor settlements. It is imperative that JMC support exploration into low-cost, ecological alternatives to expensive waterborne toilets that are more financially, logistically and environmentally viable. Toilet waste not reused on site can be collected at regional points around the town and regularly transported to the existing fertilizer facility or NWSC lagoons. JMC could maintain organizational control, but share functional responsibility with the community and other stakeholders.

SITE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS Our site-specific recommendations include designs and cost estimates for decentralized and waterborne units in four of the TSUPU proposed sites in: Loco Housing Estate, Walukuba West Market, Walukuba East Market and Kimaka Market. Decentralized alternatives to waterborne include: ventilated improved pit latrine, permanent double-pit composting toilet and temporary double-put composting toilet and biogas. Wateborne options include manual pour flush and waterborne connected to sewerage or septic.

Our cost estimates suggest higher initial costs with municipal contracting (33 percent compared to community contracting), cost savings with material choice and creative floorplans, lower running costs with composting toilets and prohibitively high running costs with waterborne toilets. Construction costs between different options vary only slightly compared to the large differences in annual costs and ten-year costs. This emphasizes the importance of choosing a technology that is cost-effective in the long-run and incorporating additional functionality to units to increase profits or reduce running costs. These additions include greywater reuse, rainwater collection, greywater gardens, kiosk and rentable storage space and community space.

Because many of the failures in our case studies occurred after construction, we developed frameworks for implementation and management in residential and market settings that include implementation and management plans, financial planning for long-term maintenance and shared stakeholder responsibilities.

40 41

Rapid Urbanization, inefficient land administration and inadequate capability to cope with the housing needs of people in urban areas have contributed to the development of the informal settlements, which is a common phenomenon in all developing countries. In Uganda, the apparent need for better housing, basic needs like sanitation facilities, water facilities and skills for employment opportunities resulted in innovations such as use of low cost building materials in construction of housing and sanitation facilities. The building materials training and community center project (BMTC) in walukuba East settlement is one of the few such projects.

The NSDFU has previously engaged in construction of sanitation units and houses using Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks and prefabricated materials known as T-beams and laddys; making housing more affordable for low income groups. Establishing a Building Material Training Center to give training in fabrication of low cost building materials is an idea SDI and NSDFU developed to promote the new found technology that could make housing for the urban poor affordable, durable, environmentally friendly and able to support their livelihood.

Jinja has a total of approximately 9 informal settlements in the periphery of the city center. According to the 2010 Jinja slum profile report by the NSDFU, the settlements are home to over 20,000 people. The need for decent housing and skills for employment is evident in the population that inhabits Jinja’s informal settlements.

INTRODUCTIONThe Urban Ecological Planning course is an opportunity to study contextual cases and derive lessons that can nudge the urbanization process into a somewhat sustainable future. By creating partnerships with ACTogether Uganda and the National Slum Dwellers Federation of Uganda, the objective of the field course is realized.

Our role was to investigate the need for a Building Materials Training Center and engage stakeholder’s to kick start the project.

OUR ROLE

Low cost building materials have the ability to significantly reduce the overall cost of a building. The materials reduce construction time; amount of mortar used in construction, number of blocks needed for the same structure and in the long term, less maintenance is required.

Examples of low cost building materials include; precast concrete T-beams and laddys, Fiber Reinforced Cement roofing tiles and Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB). The ISSBs have various types that serve different purposes depending on the needs of the structure.

For low income earners, reduction in the cost of a building is only realized if the project is seen as a whole and not the cost of a single unit like a brick. The cost of one burnt brick is lower than the cost of one ISSB. However, the amount of cement used in making mortar increases the cost of a building by at least 40% whereas in in using ISSBs, minimal mortar is used because they are 75% dry stacked.

LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS

BUILDING MATERIALS TRAINING CENTER

ISSB bottom, depressionISSB top, projecting

T-beams

Laddys

42 43

The Building Materials training center is designed to respond to the need for skills for employment and self-help housing, provide an aff ordable alternati ve to housing and contribute to the need for a community space. The stakeholders in the project are SDI, JMC, NSDFU, ACTogether and the community.

• JMC contributed land that had been reserved for a community center.

• SDI has contributed startup capital for the project UGX67million (USD 27000),

• NSDFU has contributed UGX 2.4 million from their community fund (monthly savings). For SDI, NSDFU, the BMTC is an investment that should aid the establishment of other projects. Based on this the center is designed with three major concepts: Buisness, Training center and Social space.

THE BMTCThe fi nancial feasibility is done under some assumpti ons looking at the current market situati on. The feasibility is not conclusive but gives a scenario of profi t that can be generated by the center.

The center will generate income from; fees charged from training in fabricati on of low cost building materials, income generated from sell of building materials, hire of the community center and gardens for social functi ons.

The center should generate enough profi t to repay the loan, to bear overhead charges and to develop the enti re infrastructure for the project. In order to do so, the profi t should be maximized to at least 40%-45% per annum. Looking at the current scenario at the center, it is only able to generate 7% profi t which makes the project highly unpredictable.

FINANCIAL FEASIBILITYThe site is designed to accommodate the major acti viti es; producti on of low cost materials and training in fabricati on and a community social space. The site layout is based on four aspects; the functi onality of the diff erent acti viti es of the center, circulati on on site, orientati on and opti mal use of land. In the site layout, we proposed an arrangement of producti on shed, curing ponds, storage shelter, demonstrati on house, a training/community center and community gardens. The design process was done together with the PMC, Mr. Waiswa (ACTogether) and Mr. Kaliro(Architect)

It is esti mated that the enti re project setup will cost approximately UGX138 Million (USD 55000). However, with a startup capital of UGX 67Million, the project has to be phased and the business part must thrive to enable the completi on of the project and the loan repayment. We are proposing to develop the site in 4 phases.

DESIGN APPROACH

Training & com-munity center

Production shelter

Ponds for laddies and T-beams

Storage shelter

Demo house

Entrance

Community garden

Opportunity for extension of the production center

Parking & on/o� loading

0 m 1 m 10 m

Income 208.9 M

UGX/Year

Expenditure 178.2 M

UGX/Year

Loan (12%) 18 M

UGX/Year

Profit 12.7 M

UGX/Year

44 45

The center holds great potenti al of achieving its goals both as a business and as a social space. However, the recommendati ons given below hold a great impact on the ability of the center to functi on as desired.

The current unreliable market for low cost building materials remains the biggest threat to the project. The federati on, ACTogether and JMC must invest in building a market through Projects, sensiti zati on, by-laws. Makerere University through student internship programs can promote the BMTC and sti mulate innovati on in fabricati on and constructi on techniques.

The center should only produce as per market demand so that there is a balance in demand and producti on.

The ti meline for the loan repayment should be increased to give enough ti me to establish the business and explore the market.

It is important to phase the project and not use the enti re loan before a market assessment is done. Phasing the project protects the investment and allows monitoring and evaluati on.

Stakeholders and partners should be integrated into the project with specifi c roles that would bring the cost of the project lower. This can be done through a Memorandum of Understanding.

The producti on lines for business and training should be kept separate to have a system that allows opti mum producti on to meet market demands and training that meets the objecti ves of the training center.

Conclusions are drawn from a criti cal perspecti ve of the project resulti ng from interviews, observati ons and analysis of the current situati on in Uganda.

There is a market risk for low cost building materials in Uganda att ributed to a number of issues which include;

• High cost for initi al producti on.

• Highly saturated market by traditi onal building materials that are widely produced and are easily accessible compared to low cost building materials.

• The lack of training in fabricati on and use of low cost building materials has left room for mistrust for these materials among the public.

• No eff orts have been made by architectural and constructi on insti tuti ons in including low cost building materials in curriculum. To cover the costs of constructi on and setup of the enti re project there is need for more funding.

CONCLUSIONS RECOMMENDATIONSPhase 1: Construct a basic temporary structure in wood with iron sheets which gives shelter for training and producti on of ISSBs, T-beams and laddys. Construct curing ponds, the foundati on of the ground fl oor of the center, and a temporary toilet.

Phase 2: Moving the storage container closer to the fence to give space for the community gardens and space for the demonstrati on house. Start the ground fl oor of the community center building with sanitati on faciliti es, an offi ce and a training room.

Phase 3: Construct a demonstrati on house and the fi rst fl oor of the community center- the hostels. The center should be built with few fi xed walls to allow fl exibility in use of the rooms as well lower the costs of the building.

Phase 4: completi on of the center. The second fl oor of the center will have the community hall. Basically an open room with a roof ti lted to the back to allow rain water harvesti ng.

DESIGN

0m 1m 10m

46 47

REFLECTIONS

“Practice is not about following a set pattern rather being adaptive and flexible at the same. When we are talking about the planning for low income earners, we can expect the unexpected to happen because of the degree of volatility or sensitivity of the problem they face.”

“A frog in a hole assumes the extent of the sky is equivalent to the circumference of the hole unless it gets out of the hole. This study program for me has acted as a means to explore beyond my local knowledge.”

“During the interviews we felt that the members from the various communities had strong ideas about what they wanted. The balance between what people wants and professional knowledge and skills should lead to quality projects.”

“It was harsh to see their reality and how things that are so simple and not even a thought in our society can be so crucial a point in another.”

“Someone who never had such an experience may not realize how much is to be done there. Stories of corruption and scenes from the slums may seem discouraging at first, but in me, they sparked a kind of compassion which now motivates me to do more work in the developing countries or any other place where our help could be of any use to those who struggle.”

“The duality in our approach, with a combination of on-ground field studies and theoretical/factual lectures and readings, made my first visit to Africa into an in-depth analysis and a very special learning process.”

“Above all, this fieldtrip gave me in-depth understanding of Housing for Low income earners. Believe I can make a positive change when I return back to Nepal. I must admit that my thinking has changed due to what I learnt in Uganda.”

“Looking back now it’s clear that whether one is planning a big city, or a single community project, the conflict between the plan and what actually happens is still at play. The need for better housing may not be as urgent as the need for a toilet but they are all dependent on one another.”

“It’s the people in slum areas that are more exposed to climate change related hazards and suffer the consequences severely.”

“We need to incorporate the people and the place in our plans because the problems of today’s cities require collaborative approaches like having an open minded approach of frank questioning, political creativity, tolerance and understanding.”

“Calling ourselves “developed” we discourage ourselves from continually improving and assume that “developing” countries need to adopt our solutions to become “developed”.”

“One thing that has become clear for me during this study is that it is not just, for us to come up with new and brilliant ideas for solutions to the challenges, I have learned to understand the reasons behind and how connections can be used.”

“Each city had its own distinctive character, issues and had a unique underlying ‘feeling’ attached to it. This field work or should I say the course gave me the freedom to be sensitive towards the need of the people we are working with. It is safe to conclude that we cannot impose change on people, because however surprising this may sound, even poor people know what they want. What is development for us might not even qualify to their priority list.”

“At first, it appeared as a design task but after a deeper understanding of the priorities and needs of the community, it turned to be more than just the design. It was a response to the housing needs, sanitation needs and the need for a community space.”

“Communication between local authority and the community is important. I think we often believe that people who are not professionals wouldn’t understand the process, so it is no point in trying to explain it to them. But I think not knowing anything is worse than not understanding everything.”

“The more people are involved in a particular project, the more they perceive it to be their own and the more they are willing to see it succeed.”

“I have been so humbled to learn from all sorts of sources; the most striking of these being the informal settlements with which we worked. It is not only about the physical infrastructure of a place but also the economic, the social and the cultural systems that concurrently exist with the physical.”

“Place, something I feel is heavily under looked in the creation of public spaces in Uganda, but one whose creation would probably serve as the biggest tool for change in the slum communities that are up for redevelopment.”“My training and practice as an urban planner has always been drawn from traditional planning processes, however the field work in Kampala exposed me to new experiences and insights of approaching planning issues in the 21st Century; finding solutions together is important.”

“Being in the field for two months and being in contact with the people who are living in the slums and working with them, Was definitely a great opportunity for me which i would have never achieved it with just sitting in classes and listening to lectures about them, especially for me who was coming from a completely different background.”

“I got this project on land sharing at Kisenyi, I looked it as a typical planning project but the more I learned doing the homework on it, it helped me in enhancing my knowledge and changed my perception towards how to deal with planning problems at a ground level.”

48 49

REFERENCES

PRINT RESOURCES

ACTogether A (2012). Jinja slums: Enumeration report, 2012. Kampala: ACTogether. Lwasa, S. (2010). “Adapting urban areas in Africa to climate change: the case of Kampala”, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2, pp. 166-171. Mugisha, S and Berg, S.V. (2006). “Turning around struggling state-owned enterprises in developing countries: the case of NWSC-Uganda”, Reforming public utilities to meet the water and sanitation MDG. Prepared for the seminar Reforming public utilities to meet the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goal, UK: Department for International Development.

INTERNET RESOURCES

UN. Statistics: Graphs & Maps: Drinking water, sanitation & hygiene. Available at: http://www.unwater.org/statistics_san.html (Accessed: 19 November 2013).UNESCAP. Low carbon green growth roadmap for Asia and the Pacific: Fact sheet decentralized wastewater management. Bangkok: UNESCAP.

MSC MASTER PROGRAMURBAN ECOLOGICAL PLANNING

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE AND FINE ARTPROGRAM COORDINATOR: ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ROLEE ARANYA

PHONE: (+47) 73 55 02 75FAX: (+47) 75 59 50 94

EMAIL: STUDADM@AB.NTNU.NOADRESS: SENTRALBYGG 1, 3 ETG. ALFRED GETz VEI 3, 7491 TRONDHEIM

WEB: HTTP://WWW.NTNU.EDU/WEB/URBAN-ECOLOGICAL-PLANNING-MSA1