Urban Planning practices in Uganda: Effective or Passive tools of Urban heritage conservation?: a case study of Old Kampala.

Abstract

The research study was done to find out whether urban planning tools are effective or passive, working or not working to conserve the Urban Heritage in old Kampala and Uganda as a whole. This research examined the reasons for the continued loss of Urban Heritage in the perspective of these urban planning tools and to establish the extent to which these urban planning tools have found application. Chapter one contains an introduction to the research and explains the rationale for doing the research. It contains background information regarding the research topic, statement of the problem, objectives, research questions, justification and significance of the study. Old Kampala neighborhood (planning area) is a very unique neighborhood in Kampala central division with a land mark of historic architecture known country wide. However the area is currently experiencing a severe loss of these Urban Heritage features being replaced by new buildings that merely meet the current land value. Chapter two contains a literature review which offers an insight on the specific tools in urban planning for Urban Heritage conservation and to determine whether they are effective or passive tools in Uganda. Chapter three comprises of the methodology and research design. It contains the data collection methods for example interviews, semi-structured interviews, documentary review and participant observation to obtain the qualitative and quantitative data. Chapter four contains the findings from the study area (old Kampala) and analysis of data collected including background characteristics of the respondents, inadequate community involvement in conservation management. Conclusions were drawn regarding the findings and policy recommendations made in order to achieve the main objective of making urban planning tools effective for Urban Heritage in old Kampala.