Informal settlements and urban development in urban centers in Uganda, a case of Kampala central division, Kampala district

Abstract

The study examined the effect of informal settlement on urban development in Uganda, focusing on Kampala Central Division, Kampala City. The objectives of the study were: to examine the effect of environmental and health hazards on urban development in urban centers focusing on Kampala Central Division; to analyze the effect of housing congestion on urban development; to assess the influence of socio-economic marginalization on urban development; and to evaluate the relationship between urban planning policies and urban development. A sample of 158 respondents was drawn from the study population. The study used a descriptive research design where quantitative approaches were used to collect data. The quantitative method was used to elicit information from individual respondents about the variables under study, done through questionnaires and interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS version and results were presented in form of mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. Findings of the study revealed that 95 (64.2%) agreed that poor waste management in informal areas affects the quality of urban development. This means densely populated informal areas suffer from irregular garbage collection, open dumping, and blocked drainage systems. On the second objective, findings revealed that 90 (60.8%) agreed that overcrowded housing has led to poor sanitation and hygiene conditions. This implied that lack of adequate toilet facilities, shared water points, and improper waste disposal systems in densely populated areas of Kampala Central Division has created unhealthy living conditions, increasing vulnerability to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. Furthermore, findings revealed that 80 (54%) agreed that limited access to quality education in low-income areas hinders urban development. This means that the majority of the respondents in Kampala Central Division recognized that the lack of access to quality education in low-income areas is a major constraint to sustainable urban development. The study concludes that many residents of Kampala Central Division are affected by environmental and health challenges that hinder meaningful urban development. From poor waste management and open drainage systems to pollution and unchecked construction in flood-prone areas, these issues are not just statistics, they reflect real struggles in everyday life. The study recommends that NEMA should enhance its environmental monitoring and enforcement capacity by conducting regular environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in Kampala Central Division. This includes systematic inspections of waste disposal practices, pollution levels, and land use changes, coupled with swift enforcement actions against violations.