UGANDA’S FIRST NATIONAL
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN(NPDP)

A PRESENTATION DURING WUF10, ABU DHABI,FEBRUARY 2020
Vincent B. Byendaimira
Director, Physical Planning & Urban Development, MLHUD
byendaimira@gmail.com

In this Presentation➢ Background: Towards achieving SDG 11➢ National Physical Development Planning in Uganda’s lenses➢ Uganda’s hierarchy of Physical Planning➢ Uganda’s first NPDP
➢ Legal basis; The process; Vision; The plan

➢ Conclusions

Background On 5th May 2016, Uganda launched a country specific programfor Sustainable Urban Development, developed with support ofthe UN-Habitat.
 The Program listed 7 strategic priority areas premised on SDG 11
 While the 5 year program has suffered some setbacks, there areachievements to be proud of, including;Finalization of the National Urban Policy
Commencement of formulation of an urban development specificlaw
Amendment of the Physical Planning Act to increase its
effectiveness in delivering orderly urban development
An urban infrastructure project to improve service delivery
Formulation of Uganda’s 1st National Physical Development Plan

The Concept of National Physical Development
Planning the Uganda caseUganda adopted the nomenclature of Physical Development
Planning in the PPA 2010.

Previously we used the nomenclature Physical Planning & would
have called it the National Physical Plan (like Malaysia)
The change was to take care of the purpose of physical planning,ie; development – people centredMany countries name it differently depending on their laws &localization of spatial development

Uganda’s Physical Planning hierarchy
The PPA 2010 provides fora hierarchy of PhysicalDevelopment Plans startingwith a National PhysicalDevelopment Plan andcascading
downtoRegional, District, Urbanand finally Local PhysicalDevelopment Plans.

Uganda’s first NPDPLEGAL BASISThe National Land use Policy enjoins government to prepare aNational Land use PlanSection 18 (1) of the PPA 2010 provides the legal basis for aNPDP

Uganda’s first NPDPKEY ASSUMPTIONS More and more people to live in urban areas
 NPDP works with two overall critical variables, viz;
Population & Urbanization projections
National Land use Balance sheet

 Based on the projection that the Urban population is likely todouble from 20% to 40% of Uganda’s population by 2040
 It predicts that the growing population, even with larger scale,higher yielding & higher productivity farming methods, will put
immense pressure on the country’s grasslands, forests, protectedareas & wetlands

Vision of the NPDP
The plan adopts Uganda’s Vision 2040;‘A modern industrialised nation’This plan should lead the country to achieving the above vison by showing
where:
1. There should be increased productivity in Agriculture & these areas
connected to agro-processing industries and to export markets via transport
corridors.
2. Properly serviced industrial sites are located on infrastructure corridors, andconnected to sources of raw materials, to give the massive boost toindustrialisation which is needed.
3. Urban areas will prosper in the desirable pattern and become engines ofeconomic growth.
4. Protected areas are safeguarded and degradation of natural resources isavoided.

The PlanProposals:
Transportation
 Public Transportation in urban areas.
 New National Expressway system
National Passenger Train system.
 Airports, both international and regional.
 Inland Water Transport Cargo Traffic on express ways andRailway
 Shared infrastructure corridor modelProposals - Settlement
Encourage
urbanization along
major transport
corridors

DISCOURAGE
The Prime City
Syndrome –current
situation

KAMPALAThe
Hierarchical
System Of
Cities –Desired

KAMPALAKAMPALAUrbanisation
Urban Region

Population

SqKM

Density

CapitalGKMA

8,500,000

2223

3,823

Arua

500,000

319

1,566

Gulu

1,000,000

589

1,697

Hoima

1,200,000

639

1,877

Jinja-Njeru

500,000

303

1,648

Kasese500,000

250

2,000

Lira

500,000

256

1,956

Mbale

1,000,000

494

2,022

Mbarara1,200,000

435

2,760

Moroto300,000

147

2,035

Soroti300,0001541,948

Masaka500,000

242

2,067

Busia

300,000

147

2,038

Masindi300,000

156

1,919

Mityana

300,000

150

2,000

Tororo300,000

121

2,471

Adjumani

250,000

150

1,663

Entebbe250,000

56

4,490

Fort Portal

250,000

155

1,614

Iganga250,000

110

2,273

Kabale250,000

143

1,749

Kamuli250,000

114

2,186

Kitgum250,000

122

2,052

Luwero250,000

94

2,662

Mpondwe

250,000

127

1,967

Busheny

200,000

97

2,063

Major Town

Regional Cities

FunctionProposed Agricultural Lands.

1. Strategic AgriculturalZones
2. Secondary Agricultural
Zones

Implementation & Way forward• First implementation strategy is to ensure the plan guides
the country’s 3rd National Development Plan (NDP III)
• A spatial data team is being set up at the ministry tomaintain & update the national space & check proposed
projects for compliance• All lower level PDPs to be informed by the NPDP
• Government to prioritise enforcing compliance to plans at alllevels• The Ministry’s Land use Regulation & ComplianceDepartment to be strengthened

Conclusions• This NPDP is expected to rationalize the various demands on thecountry’s space• The plan recognizes that planned urbanization is key in freeing land forother uses (eg agriculture) and protecting environmentally sensitive
areas (wetlands, forests, hilltops, etc), plus conservation.
• It recognizes that its fruits will only be enjoyed if it is followed byeffective lower level planning and effective implementation of all spatialplansThank you