The causes and implications of Industrial sprawl outside gazetted industrial parks in Kampala metropolitan area: a case study of Jinja road Axis.
Abstract
Industrial sprawl imposes an enormous threat to the harmonious living in the residential
neighbourhoods globally. The increase in the population growth rates especially in
developing countries coupled with the rapid urbanisation and the desire to industrialise as
viewed to be one of the indicators of economic prosperity have been the root cause of this
evil.
This study therefore was designed to analyse the causes of industrial sprawl, assess its
implications and further come up with possible solutions to curb industrial sprawl within the
study area.
A cross sectional study design was used. The study was conducted along Jinja road axis. It
involved interviewing 40 randomly and purposively selected residents and business operators
in their respective categorise within the study area in December 2018. Various sampling
procedures were used in getting the respondents. Time series analysis was employed to assess
the extent of industrial sprawl in the study area. Data was collected, edited, coded and entered
into EPI data. The data was analysed using SPSS version 25.0 computer program.
The research found out that of the 40 people interviewed, 90% gave in their consent to the
study. More than half (55%) of the respondents encountered problem resulting from
industries in their residential neighbourhoods. The majority (33.33%) of the respondent
appreciated pollution to be the major problem encountered.
In conclusion, Industrial sprawl in the study area is more noteworthy in the areas of Namanve
in Kira municipality and Banda in KCCA. With a more than double growth of industries after
every five years and stretching up to an average of 1.7 kilometre away on both sides of the
road within the study area unlike the 150 metres average distance away from Jinja road by
2005. With the National industrial policy (2008) as some of the key policies guiding
industrial development within the country.
It is recommended that there is a need to formulate a new industrial location policy for
industrial development in the country borrowing a leaf from the existing industrial policies
coupled with sensitisation of the general public about industrial development and policies
composed some of the recommendations formulated by the researcher.