Overview of Uganda's Urban Development and Management Law

Vision 2040 and National Development Plan emphasize the pivotal role of cities in Uganda's development. The absence of a legal framework for urban development led to fragmented mandates across ministries. Efforts are underway to establish a comprehensive legal framework for sustainable urban development and management, focusing on areas such as urban productivity, safety, smart cities, and rural-urban linkages.

• Uganda
• Urban Development
• Legal Framework
• Sustainable Development
• Urban Management

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1. BRIEF ON THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT LAW FOR UGANDA PRESENTED DURING THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS WORKING GROUP 12/10/2021

2. Introduction and background The Vision 2040, National Development Plan (NDP III) and the National Urban Policy (NUP) envisage Cities to play strategic and distinctive roles in Uganda s development trajectory. Therefore, cities should be viewed as centres of economic growth and not mere administrative units at a local government level. During government restructuring of its Ministries in 2006, policy makers realized the need to establish a specific Ministry responsible for Urban Development in the country and that it was strategic to combine Land management, Physical Planning, Urban development and Housing under the same Ministry to be able to get the best synergies out of these crucial services. NDPIII focus still remains on cities under the Sustainable Urbanization and Housing Program housed at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. Uganda is rapidly urbanising with at least 27% of her population now living and working in urban areas and growing at 5.2% per annum. It s also estimated that over 50% of Uganda s Population will be leaving in towns by 2030, this is a worrying situation for the country which needs serious attention including a robust legal and institutional Framework Whereas Government established a Ministry responsible for Urban Development in 2006, there has never been any legal framework to give mandate to the Minister and or the Ministry especially in regard to Urban Development and management. This has resulted in scattered mandates in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies on urban development sector, hence causing confusion, duplication and chaos to the urban development agenda for the country.

3. Background to the Urban Development and Management Law. In 2017, the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban development put in place a National Urban policy that aims at provision of a framework for sustainable development and management of urban areas in the country. This process was initiated by the MoLG but handed over to the MoLHUD upon its creation in 2006 The National Urban Policy provides for legal and Institutional review in order to put in place a legal framework for sustainable urban development and management in the country. To achieve the above, MLHUD embarked on the process of developing the legal and institutional framework for orderly development and management of cities and other urban areas as provided for in the policy. (Please note that at this point we were NOT yet taking decisions on what institution would implement what.) The Ministry conducted a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) that reviewed all existing legal, policy and institutional framework related to urban development as required by Cabinet Secretariat for developing the legal and institutional framework, the draft RIA report now available. Consultations commenced with the MoLG on 27thJuly 2021 and Central Region finalized before the exercise was halted due to some challenges that are between the two ministries with the most recent meeting held on the 1stOctober 2021 with HE. The Vice President over the same.

4. Areas of focus of the proposed legal framework Urban productivity and competitiveness Clear scientific criteria for establishing, upgrading and classification of Cities and other urban areas Metropolitan approach to Planning, management and development of urban areas. Provision for smart cities Urban safety Rural urban linkages for sustainable development Provision of urban development forums to facilitate stakeholder participation in development Urban financing mechanisms for improved service delivery Strategic and integrated long term planning for the urban sector Contemporary urban management, Governance and development processes for the urban sector Provision of an institutional framework proportional to the contemporary urban challenge. A framework for a conducive urban land management policy and legal regime Emphasis of key social services like urban housing and refocus the role of Government Urban redevelopment and informal settlements/ slums upgrading, ets

5. Way forward Finalize with Consultations on the RIA Prepare final Principles for submission to Cabinet