Assessing the gaps in land sharing projects for informal settlements in Kampala (case of Kisenyi 111)

Abstract

As a result of urbanization, the poorest and most vulnerable individuals are progressively moving into huge, highly disturbed informal communities with high levels of poverty and inequality. This report gives an overview of gaps of slum upgrading for urban informal settlements using land sharing projects; case of Kisenyi III in Kampala district. The report also constitutes study findings of a field research carried out in June 2022 guided by these central questions: - (I) What institutional arrangements have been put in place for slum upgrading using land sharing projects in Kisenyi III? (ii) What are the roles of stakeholders in Kisenyi III slum upgrading using land sharing projects? (iii) What are the existing gaps in Kisenyi III land sharing projects in Kampala? The study employed secondary data from literature review for theoretical framework development and field study tools. Purposive sampling and Stratified random sampling techniques were used in the case of AcTogether officials and Kisenyi III residents whose sample sizes were 11 and 108 respectively. The study also employed case study design and the data was analysed descriptively and presented in tables and figures. Slum upgrading in Kisenyi III using land sharing projects has various stakeholders including tenants, resident and non-resident structure owners, land owners, public authorities, civil society, private sector and international development agencies. Despite the establishment of an all- inclusive institutional framework for improvement and prevention of informal settlements, the implementation of Kisenyi III slum upgrading programme using land sharing projects has several gaps that include:- complexities of slum settlements with regard to tenure arrangements; lack of coordination of various stakeholders; resistance to the slum upgrading programme especially by the slumlords; lack of participation by the slum dwellers in the upgrading programme; residents not being aware of their roles as stakeholders in the upgrading programme; lack of adequate land for slum upgrading; lack of goodwill and mistrust from the slum dwellers; inadequate budgetary allocations to the programme from the government exchequer; politicization of the programme; environmental degradation; varied political, cultural and religious inclinations amongst the residents and their leaders; various stakeholders being involved in the programme leading to partnership concepts that often derail the implementation schedules of the upgrading programme; and non-genuine Non-Governmental Organisations. It is in view of these gaps that the study recommends guidelines that are outlined in chapter five of this report for use in Kisenyi III slum v

upgrading programme using land sharing projects specifically and any other similar set up generally.