POLITICAL LEADERS SENSITIZED ON GROUNDBREAKING GMKA URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Political leaders from various levels of government under the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) gathered at the Essella Country Hotel in Kira Municipality for a sensitization program on the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GMKA-UDP).

The event aimed to educate and engage leaders on the transformative potential of the program, which is set to receive significant funding from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group.

The GMKA-UDP, valued at $566 million (Shs2.1 trillion), includes a mix of loans and grants, with $518 million allocated as a loan and $48 million as a grant.

This substantial financial injection will fuel infrastructure development across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, encompassing entities such as Kampala, Entebbe, Kira, Makindye-Ssabagabo, Mukono, and Nansana, as well as districts like Mukono, Mpigi, and Wakiso.

The programme will further be facilitated by a loan worth $42.66 million (Shs156.4 billion) from Agence Francaise de Development (AFD)

At the heart of the GMKA-UDP is the goal to implement the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Local Economic Development Strategy, endorsed by Cabinet in March 2020.

This strategy, developed in collaboration with the World Bank, outlines a roadmap to stimulate economic growth, improve household incomes, and generate employment opportunities, particularly targeting the youth demographic.

The program's focus areas include enhancing mobility and accessibility through road upgrades, bolstering urban resilience with drainage infrastructure, fostering job creation through workspace establishment, and strengthening institutional capacity for coordinated planning and investment in infrastructure.

During the sensitization event, attendees were briefed on specific sub-projects under the GMKA-UDP, including the upgrading and reconstruction of strategic roads covering 83.46km, construction of drainage channels such as the Lubigi Drainage Channel (900m), key drainage crossings, and black spots.

Additionally, the program includes initiatives like city greening efforts, construction of markets to create workspaces accommodating up to 20,000 individuals, and other essential infrastructure developments.

Speaking at the event, the KCCA Deputy Executive Director Eng David Luyimbazi highlighted the significance of the GMKA-UDP in aligning with Uganda's broader development agendas, including Vision 2040, the Third National Development Plan (NDPIII), and the KCCA Strategic Plan 2021-2025.

They emphasized the importance of efficient metropolitan coordination, improved infrastructure, and service accessibility in driving sustainable urban development and economic prosperity.

The training session concluded with a call to action for political leaders to actively engage with the GMKA-UDP, leverage its opportunities for their constituencies, and ensure effective implementation and oversight to maximize the program's positive impact on the GKMA.​