Mainstreaming Environmental issues in Housing Development: Drawing lessons from Akright Kakungulu Housing Estates

View of Akright Kakukugulu satellite City

Whoever thought that names such as Cathedral, Temple and Palm were a preserve for religious artifacts might have to reconsider this assertion with the establishment of Kakungulu estates. The newly built luxurious Kakungulu satellite city located on the Kampala Entebbe highway 18 kilometers from Kampala is no stranger to such names.

On 4th Sept 2012 the Uganda Human Settlements Network with its members drawn from the civil society organizations and housing cooperatives visited this luxurious Estate for an exposure and learning tour on issues of Environment, climate change and housing development. The Network was hosted by the Director of Finance Mr. Alex Kamukama who guided members through developments within the estate. 

Members were thrilled to learn how the idea of having a self sustaining estate was conceived and realized from humble beginnings. This satellite City as described by Mr. Kamukama is composed of 12 villages. The twelve villages were created with emphasis to accommodate different categories of people depending on their special needs and affordability. He also made reference to the Bible which he says was the key guiding factor during formulation and design of 12 villages in the City quoting 12 tribes of Israelites in Numbers 33:54. 

Mr. Kamukama Alex introducing members to the estate

It was revealed that the estate has been able to integrate environmental issues through landscaping putting into consideration water flow systems and comprises of among other facilities Social amenities such as education centers; recreation centers; shopping malls as well as health facilities. The estate development which started in 2002 is expected to be completed by the year 2022 and is expected to accommodate 144,000 people according to the plan. Alex also informed members that the estate has been able to plan for provision of water through creating 12 artificial water bodies in the valley.  

Members enjoying the top view of the estate as they listen to Mr Kamukama

Greening and use of existing resources to develop an estate

After introductory remarks from Mr. Kamukama members were taken through the estate to physically observe issues of environment and climate change mainstreaming. As members sat down in one of the resting spots near the luxurious palm valley golf course in the estate for a drink, offered by the Host, he went on to narrate how the estate was largely developed using existing resources. 

Members taking a drink as they listen to Mr Kamukama narrate his journey to success

Using existing Natural resources in swamps with the estate, they were able to mine clay in partnership with Uganda clays for tiles and brick making which were used to construct houses in the estate. With emphasis on the same point, he advised members most especially those from housing cooperatives not to fail to start building their dream homes with excuse of lacking enough financial resources but rather start with available resources and God given abilities.

One of the posh houses in the estate

With lurid, vocal and humorous body gestures Mr. Kamukama taunted environmentalists who think people can’t effectively live and use resources in swamps and green belts without destroying its nature and inhabitants referring to Kakungulu estate as a perfect example that they ought to emulate.

Members taking a group photo in the golf course near the swamp and the green belt in the estate

He then led members to the luxurious palm valley golf course in the estate that was developed within in the valley around the swamp while maintaining its natural green cover and water systems. The beauty of green landscape within the golf course awed members to the extent that some started whispering on how they would wish to have the same landscape in their living rooms. He also shared the long-term plan they have for improving and creating more open spaces in the estate, including developing world class sports center within the estate with all facilities

Members admiring the landscape in palm valley golf course

  

Mr. Kamukama also pointed out how it would be unfair for members to depart without looking at how they used ponds where they previously harvested clay that are currently used for fish farming and water trapping to irrigate vegetable gardens. He then led the team to the ponds located in the far east of the estate. With antics and humorous gestures to make his point clear, Mr. Kamukama went on to explain how people should start learning how to live with nature without destroying it referring to the Bible that God gave us Dominion over earth.

Members listening to Mr. Kamukama narrate how they effectively used empty ponds after clay mining

He also went ahead and took members to see how they have harmoniously used nature in the green belt to create camping site for tourists preserving tourist features like a plant with the longest and widest leaf in the world which he called “Raffia Palm”

Members posing for a photo in the camping site, far behind is the Rafia palm

Members being shown techniques of water trapping for fish farming

To the surprise of the guests, the Estate still had more scenic and features to visit and to cut a long story short as they say, the day climaxed with a visit to Vegetable gardens. Several participants were observed nodding their heads in total satisfaction and appreciation of a well planned for sustainable neighbourhood.

Members admiring the Vegetable gardens in the estate as they listen to to Mr kamukam tell a story on how they managed to do it

View of the estate from the valley

Call for concept Ideas towards adequate housing

Competition for innovative ideas towards adequate housing

The Search for innovative solutions to attain adequate housing in cities and urban communities in Uganda is on:

The Habitat Agenda defines "adequate housing" as "more than a roof over one's head. It also means adequate privacy; adequate space; physical accessibility; adequate security; security of tenure; structural stability and durability; adequate lighting, heating and ventilation; adequate basic infrastructure, such as water supply, sanitation and waste management facilities; suitable environmental quality and healthrelated factors; and adequate and accessible location with regard to work and basic facilities, all of which should be available at an affordable cost.

In regard to the above, the Network has earmarked more than 2,000 $ to reward individuals, community groups and civil society organizations that come up with the best innovative ideas on how to achieve adequate housing in cities and urban communities of Uganda.

Students, Community Based Organizations and Civil Society Organizations will compete for top cash prizes in a challenge dubbed: The Search for innovative solutions to attain adequate housing in cities and urban communities in Uganda.

Participants are expected to come up with innovative ideas on addressing the problem of inadequate housing in Cities and urban communities in Uganda. The submitted ideas will be ranked and authors of the top ideas will be invited to participate in a knowledge sharing and exchange event at which all best practices and lessons in the housing sector will be publicized and rewarded with cash prizes, t-shirts, magazines, calendars, caps, pens etc.

To participate download and follow instructions on this link:http://www.ssauganda.org/uploads/Concept%20Note%20for%20Network%20Challenge.pdf

Proudly powered by Shelter and Settlements Alternatives: Uganda Human Settlements Network (SSA:UHSNET)

Empowering slum communities to attain clean and healthy living environments: Kibumbiro Zone Day

Imagine a community where individuals are aware of their roles and responsibilities in preserving and protecting their living environment and those who excel are rewarded with cash prizes. This is no longer just an idea nor a thought but a best practice in Kibumbiro Zone a slum community in Busega Parish, Rubaga Division of Kampala. One will have to think twice before littering in this Zone following a resolution by the local community members to impose a fine to whoever is caught carelessly dumping and sprawling garbage. On the other hand households and individuals who excel in keeping their homes and surroundings clean will be rewarded with cash prizes of not less than 500,000/=.

This was at the launch of a monthly clean up and sensitization exercise facilitated by Shelter and Settlements Alternatives; Uganda Human Settlements Network (SSA-UHSNET) a network comprised of civil society organizations, communities, individuals, and private sector stakeholders working together with the main purpose of lobbying, advocating and sharing information for better policies, programs and practices towards sustainable improvement of human settlements in Uganda.

 The event drew participants from all circles of life including the taxi and boda-boda operators, local leaders, heads of households, business persons, Rubaga Division leaders, officials from Kampala City Yange Program and the Secretariat of Shelter and and Settlements Alternatives; Uganda Human Settlements Network (SSA-UHSNET) to mention but a few. The area LC Chairperson Hajj. Kimera Mohammed introduced the teams that will keep the initiative alive in the area and cautioned all residents to be wary of indiscriminate garbage disposal. He explained that SSA-UHSNET not only did it fund the whole initiative but also provided all the equipments necessary for cleaning in addition to purchasing a mobile public address system to help in community mobilization efforts. Among the equipments are wheel barrows, hoes, spades, gloves, rakes, pick axes, gum boots, brooms and reflector jackets among others. Samona Products (U) Ltd a leading manufacturer of herbal cosmetics, skin care and personal care products in Uganda also donated waist reflector jackets to aid in the cleaning exercise.

The Network hopes that this campaign will give the slum communities a unique identity through promotion of volunteerism and establishment of interactive sensitization campaigns for the slum dwellers. The campaign’s slogan states thus; “Towards improved conditions of Slum dwellers: You have a right to a clean and healthy environment.” Through such exercises, the Network engages with community members, Local Council leaders, local government and City Authorities, drawing attention to both communities’ right to a clean and healthy environment, whilst emphasizing individual roles and responsibilities in preserving and protecting their environment.

The exercise was witnessed and attended by Mr. Allan Kajoro the Community Liaison Officer for Kampala City Yange, a series of monthly on-going social themes through which each Kampala City stakeholder can have a chance to participate in being a part of the solution based on their passion and skill set in resonance with a specific community need in and around Kampala. In his sensitization message he explained that KCCA had to take another key step of blowing the dust off the Solid Waste Management Ordinance 2009 and prosecuting some offenders. The Ordinance requires, among other things, that the party that generates garbage (the garbage generator) is responsible for its final disposal.

While officiating at the same event, Mr. Luyimbazi James, the Town Clerk for Rubaga Division expressed his appreciation to SSA-UHNSET for funding the initiative. Despite being in office for a few weeks, he was instrumental in securing garbage trucks to collect and dispose garbage that was cleaned that day. Mr. James endorsed the initiative of rewarding best performing households and promised to link the initiative to Health Inspectors at the Division. He suggested that those caught littering and sprawling garbage all over the area should always be fined and asked to do community service. The Town Clerk was flanked by the Assistant Supervisor of Solid Wastes in Rubaga Division Mr. Ssalongo Kagimu who promised to prioritize timely garbage collection from collection points at a tip of a phone call.

Despite the efforts of the Network, there is still a lot of garbage in slums, which gets mixed up with human waste during the rainy season and ends up in spring wells, most of which are contaminated and also the failure to sort garbage that is not biodegradable, like plastic, from organic waste. However it is worth noting that this initiative is a great platform not only for promoting SSA-UHSNET’s agenda of improving the conditions of slum dwellers but also contributing to the identification of issues, problems and challenges in human shelter and settlements within the context of the community and their resolution to promote sustainable and equitable human development to actively participate in taking care of their living environment.

Hardly can such an event go without something worth home writing about. Moments into the sensitization meeting after the clean up exercise, community members were thrilled when it all dawned on one a taxi driver who was handed over to the community after being caught red handed littering yellow banana peelings after a cleanup exercise. He was forgiven on grounds that he was absent when the resolution was passed and was also the first culprit however this could not deter the giving of a cash reward of 50,000/= over to his accuser.

Reporting by Agaba Martin Program Assistant Shelter and Settlements Alternatives; Uganda Human Settlements Network (SSA-UHSNET)

Cleaning Busega With Love

Cleaning Busega with Love!

The Uganda Human Settlements Network launches a community clean up and sensitization drive in slum communities

Not even the early morning rain could halt the much anticipated launch of the community clean up and sensitization drive on the 28^th of July 2012 in Busega Central C Zone. What started as an idea at the Uganda Human Settlements Network Secretariat in Bukoto would later culminate into one of the memorable days in a slum community deep in the outskirts of Kampala city. Others will always remember it as a day their woes of clogged smelly and dirty drainage channels were opened and cleaned, to others it is a day that they met their leaders headed by the Mayor of Rubaga Division her worship Joyce Ssebugwawo. Still to others it was a day crowned with reflections of having a right to a clean and healthy environment, whilst emphasizing individual roles and responsibilities in preserving and protecting their environment and the general feeling that their conditions as slum dwellers could be improved.

Some of the cleaning equipment that was delivered by SSA-UHSNET

As early as 6.00 am SSA-UHSNET dispatched its team that included the Program Officer, Program Assistant and the Mzungu Intern who would later come to terms with curious eyes of the little ones in Busega. “Mzungu, mzungu bye bye…” they shouted in chorus. The SSA-UHSNET team delivered equipment worth 2.5 million that included wheel barrows, hoes, spades, gloves, rakes, pick axes, gum boots, brooms, reflector jackets and a portable public address system that had been earlier delivered to alert the community about the impending “bulungi bwansi.” The rest of the Secretariat crew headed by the Executive director Ms. Dorothy Baziwe accompanied by the chairperson of the Water and Sanitation Working group Mr. Ssebunya Kiiza joined the activity in the wee hours of the morning. The artistically designed day’s banner said it all: The day’s theme ran thus: Community Clean up and sensitization exercise; “Towards improved conditions of Slum dwellers: You have a right to a clean and healthy environment.” Indeed it was a beautiful piece of art with captions of people doing the real work.

The days theme displayed on the banner

The long wait that had started with the preparatory activities spearheaded by the steering committee headed by the LC II chairperson Mr. Kimera Mohamed soon came to an end as each resident scrambled to get hold of an equipment to use. Heaps of hoes, spades, rakes, gumboots, among other materials were reduced to nothing and residents descended upon the garbage and the filth in the drainage channels. News of the activity spread like wild fire, in a few moments boda-boda riders abandoned their rides, equally the shopkeepers temporarily went on a selling strike, to sum it all, both the young and old, men and women, leader and the led, small and big inflicted pain on any cleaning equipment they could lay their hands on.

Residents take part in the exercise

What seemed to be pools of dirty water started snaking its way through a sparkling clean drainage channel. Heaps of garbage and rubbish were brought next to the road awaiting a garbage truck. Beads of sweat started forming on participants’ foreheads a proof that some great work had been done. The day would not go without something to write home about as the Parish councilor contestants worked hard and harder to outclass their competitors vying for the same seat that fell vacant with the sudden demise of the former parish councilor. What an opportune moment to spot the best contestant!

Parish Councilor contestants on duty!

By 11.30 am the Zone was sparkling fresh and clean, the beats of the drum were changed with the public announcer urging people to gather for a sensitization meeting. One by one, the participants who neither had any trace of tiredness nor remorse for the great service they had rendered to the community, gathered and attentively listened to one speaker after another starting from the hosting Local Council One Chairperson Mr. Ssalongo Kyambadde and each of the contestants was given a chance to greet the people and address the issues related to the days proceedings. A team from the famous Kampala City Yange; a series of monthly on-going social themes through which each Kampala City stakeholder can have a chance to participate in being a part of the solution based on their passion and skill set in resonance with a specific community need in and around Kampala was at hand to witness the success that the Uganda Human Settlements Network had registered.

The Uganda Human Settlements Network secretariat Team

News that her worship the Mayor of the Division was on her way changed the rhythm of the meeting, the dull and long faces beamed up with wide cheers and a standing ovation that was accompanied with the National Anthem and as usual the Landlord’s (Buganda) anthem. I could clearly see that her presence meant a lot to her electorates judging from the warm reception she got. Each speaker echoed words of wisdom as regards water and sanitation in the area, the quest for public toilets, garbage trucks and a health centre took center stage among other community needs.

Her worship the Mayor of Rubaga addresses the people

Speaker after speaker thanked “Shelter” for having made the day possible. The mayor expressed her gratefulness to SSA and pledged to work together with all those who are ready and willing to. Her stern warning to those who dispose their waste matter improperly and those who intentionally dump wastes in the drainage channels could not be under looked. She declared a crackdown on those who build houses that do not have toilet/latrine facilities but offered a grace period of three months. The day was crowned with a question and answer session with residents directly posing questions to their leaders. The camera shutters later had a field day as residents curved around their mayor and the SSA-UHSNET team for a group photo. 

The mayor (center) and her team from Rubaga Division, KCCA Kampala City Yange team, SSA-UHSNET team, Local Leaders of Busega and the community pose for a group photo

Prioritizing Adequate Housing - Media Breakfast, 26/06/12 Imperial Royale Hotel

Last Tuesday morning, on the 26th of June, a media engagement breakfast was organized by SSA:UHSNET in collaboration with Uganda Cooperative Alliance- Housing Cooperatives Project (UCA-HCDP) at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala. The media, key-government officials and other actors within the human settlement sector gathered for a breakfast meeting on the topic: Prioritizing Adequate Housing. It was aimed at ensuring different stakeholders, particularly the media, to know about the current challenges within the housing sector and engage in advocating for it to be given priority on the national agenda.

Various presentations were given on the topic of prioritizing adequate housing. Topics discussed ranged from current plans to build more affordable houses to the role of government in the future. Guest of Honour was the Minister of State for Housing: Hon. Sam Engola. The Minister explained some of the current plans within the housing sector, as building new affordable houses in every district the upcoming years, and identified opportunities, like Public Private Partnership arrangements for funds and financing. After the presentations the media and some other stakeholders were given the chance to ask (critical) questions.

Key finding was that adequate housing is equal to sustainable development. With a multiplier effect of between 5-12, which means that every UGX invested in housing generates an effect of between 5-12 UGX, housing could become a major economic drive. The challenge is providing the necessary funds. SSA:UHSNET chairman Mr. Byaruhanga emphasized once again that active government intervention is needed in the housing sector, only through the government adequate and affordable housing for ALL can be achieved.

The government made some important promises. First of all the minister pledged that government would re-enter in the issue of providing social housing, particularly in the new districts. This certainly is promising, as we as SSA:UHSNET believe that active government intervention is needed to provide more affordable houses. Moreover the Director of Housing pledged to ensure transformation of informal settlements in Uganda, meaning that government will improve infrastructure and services in these settlements. If realized this will be a very big improvement for people living in informal settlements.

The media can also play an important role in Prioritizing Adequate Housing. Sharing materials and information is an effective way to make more people aware of the issue of adequate housing.

We thank all participants for their contribution and participation.

Ugandans told to save for Houses!

Flavia Nassaka a reporter of the East African Business Week ran a captivating story that the Network is pleased to share with the rest of the world and it reads...
Kampala, Uganda-stakeholders in the human settlement sector have urged the public to participate in income generating activities so that they can accumulate savings that can aid them build a house.
"People should engage in activities that can enable them at least save Shs500 ($0.2) a day, through saving people can be able to build a reasonable three-bed room house", said Mr. Emmanuel Byaruhanga, the chairman Uganda Human Settlement network (UHSNET) during a settlements' exhibition  in Kampala recently.
Among the items show cased was a banner which the stake holders and the public have to sign and present to Parliament before Independence Day. Byaruhanga who advises the low income earners who can't raise resources to construct a house solely to build formal settlements through cooperatives, says a three-bedroom house is cost effective, gender friendly and also health sensitive if well planned.
UHSNET is a network comprised of civil society organizations, individuals, and private sector stakeholders working together with the main purpose of lobbying, advocating and sharing information for better policies, programs and practices towards sustainable improvement of human settlements. Atleast 60% of Ugandans in urban areas  live in slums with low  latrine coverage. The high level of  congestion creates pressure on land leading to degradation.
"The existence of poor households in Uganda's urban areas should be blamed on the government since there is no political will to support the housing sector. Only 0.3% of the budget was allocated to the land, housing and urban development ministry", said Mr. Charles Ofwono Chairman Foundation for Rural Housing, an organization that advocates for transforming rural settlements.
Ofwono says that in some parts of Eastern Uganda, grass species such as the spear grass are extinct because of the poor housing facilities since most homesteads use grass for roofing than iron sheets.
"Uganda's population has been growing at an annual rate of 3.2% to the current 30 million people while the urban areas have registered an annual rate of 5.1%. At this rate, Uganda will have a population of about 68 millions by 2035, 30% of which will be in the urban areas", said Samuel Babara, Commissioner Urban Development.
With such a population increase on the limited land of about 241038 sq km, Ugandans are urged to venture into building storied buildings such that the rest of the land is left free for practicing large scale agriculture since farming is the greatest foreign exchange earner for the economy.
You can also read this article on the officail website of the East African Business Week: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.newspapersites.net/newspaper/east-african-business-week.asp

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