Investigating the challenges of housing and infrastructural provision in slum areas: A case study Bwaise Area.

Abstract

ABSTRACT There has been an increasing growth of slums and this needs more attention. The purpose of this study is to find out the housing challenges and problems in planning with emphasis on Bwaise 1 Bwaise 2 and Bwaise 3. In addition this research will explore community participation as a contributor to improving housing conditions to the people of Bwaise. For improving the infrastructural challenges in Bwaise, it is equally important to include community participation. The current approach to address housing issues in Bwaise seem to have failed in terms of reaching the urban poor in Bwaise, meeting the affordability levels, lack of communication and resources etc. This calls for a new approach. The study shows the factors leading to the settlement of people in Bwaise. The study further analyses the state of infrastructure in Bwaise. The study also shows what factors promote or inhibit improvement of the housing and infrastructural challenges in Bwaise with an aim of establishing the most appropriate mechanisms to improve the housing conditions in Bwaise. The study targeted the estimated population of Bwaise of about 90000 people. Several research instruments were used which included household questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Random Sampling was used to collect data and a total of 112 house holds participated in this study. The data collected from the questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews was analysed using MS Excel. Pie charts , Bar graphs and table figures were then drawn after data was summarized into frequencies and percentages. The study indicated that poverty and the closeness of Bwaise to different industrial and commercial businesses was the major cause that made people to settle in Bwaise. The infrastructural provision in Bwaise was both inadequate and poorly maintained. Findings indicated that poverty alleviation can be the best way to reduce on people settling in Bwaise through encouraging Rural production and agriculture. The study further urges the government to come up with a planning strategy specially for slums to be incorporated in the Town Planning Act. Engaging Community involvement emerged as one of the best ways to solve infrastructural problems in Bwaise.