{UAH} The Physical Planning Act, Local Government Act RIP – Environment Policing in Comma!
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10:26 PM |
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The Physical Planning Act, Local Government Act RIP – Environment Police in Comma!
Let the army have a special force to first and foremost clear all wetlands in 6 months. If Rwizi and Ankole wetland dries (cattle dies) up may be that is when this government will understand what they are doing.
NRM cut down tropical forests (Kalangala) in Lake Victoria – without seriously considering global currents (wind movements). Then almost all of western Uganda is shaved clean of trees effectively changing climatic conditions, into the whole of Uganda particularly Northern and Central Uganda.
As if that is not enough, Lake Victoria basin is under constant attack from Sudhir's flower farms and urban pollution – as if Sudhir is the only Uganda who can bring in money!
We call it development
Use the Town and Country Planning Act 1964 which in fact needs very little polishing, instead of a National Urban Policy, which if ever it becomes a law will add to the LGA confusion. If we are planning this country – some towns will have to ceases from existing.
This is a matter of life and death and if we want to preserve our environment. It is also economically unviable to have as many urban regions, as we think we can have because someone set-up a shop along the road.
This is exactly the same model used to set up an unsustainable districts under NRM. The entire project is totally irrational and borders to governance mismanagement.
Urbanisation is not problem free. One builds a city in Kigumba and what about Hoima and Masindi?!
Urban development should therefore be a model, primarily looking at a few vital parameters in; human development, resource utilisation and environmental conservation hence focus on;
a. Optimisation of resources sharing and utilisation
b. Economies of scale and employment opportunities
c. Garbage and urban waste handling
d. Localization (placement of industries) visa vi Human settlements
e. Optimisation of transport, logistics and modelling.
f. creating synergies between towns and cities: tourism, water recourses, organisation and management
g. Maintaining and most importantly have the largest population in self employment i.e. agriculture.
Take a look at Kampala- Nakasongola (Bwaise –Kawempe(division) Kawanda- Matuga townships, Bombo- Kalule-Wobulenzi , Kasana- Luwero-Kakoge, Katugo- Nakasongola.
Then Kampala –Jinja ; Banda- Bweyogerere, Seta- Mukono, Mbalala-Namataba-Lugazi, Njeru-Jinja.
So the entire section of these roads should become one gigantic urbanised centre (5000) as per the urban policy?!
The same applies to Pakwach – Koboko, Gulu –Nimule though not as heavily urbanise but that is trend coming up.
Uganda has no government – full stop.
See what is going on Jinja road. The placement of factories is just what the proprietors think is appropriate to him. There is Mbalala – which should be an industrial location – it is not being used for that purpose!
Namanve reclaimed from Lake Victoria wetland – has all empty space yet factories are just being placed anyhow. This implies local governments under the Local Government Act are on leave - and the executive instinctively places industries and super markets
Who is implementing the Land Act 1998 and the Physical Planning Act – Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Local Governments and what are the corresponding organs at the local level ;Cities, Towns, and Rural Areas, LCs?
Read the Uganda National Land Policy. I was shocked with section 4.11 , 69 stating that dwellers have a right to live in slums and informal settlements! Are the people who drafted this policy aware of the Physical Planning Act 2010 and NEMA Act?!
What exactly is meant by informal settlement and slums- pity me!
Along Luwero –Gulu Road you will find wetlands being encroached on for factories establsihment: Just after Kawanda a wetland there has been filled with soil to create a factory. Opposite Idi Amin's Bombo Military farm that wetland has been encroached for another factory.
Then a boomshell from the Uganda Urban Planning policy which states in policy statement 2 that minimum population density of an urban region will be 5000! Implying what?
That a village per definition can easily become a town. What is the difference between Local Government Act and this policy then? So Uganda is becoming a super urbanised region. In fact policy statement 3. I. effectively delete rural areas. (Town and Country Planning Act 1964 is in London)
Anyhow, one is lost with words. There appears to be a lot of confusion in Uganda and very uneducated educated guesses.
Bwanika
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Daniel Bwanika
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