While Uganda’s urbanization level is relatively low, at only 18 per cent of its population residing in cities and towns, it is one of the most rapidly urbanizing countries in Africa. The total number of people residing in urban areas is expected to quadruple from six million people at present to more than 20 million people by 2040. This is already causing various urban challenges for policymakers.
Key challenges include high rates of unemployment and underemployment, especially in urban areas, with the rate of creation of productive jobs being lower than the rate of growth of the urban population.
As a result, over 75% of the labour force in urban areas is employed in the informal sector, characterized by low productivity and low wages. In addition, congestion and lack of public transport options in many cities restrict the movement of goods and people.
The quality of housing remains a major challenge with more than 60 per cent of the residents of urban areas living in slums and informal settlements. Finally, the delivery of social services of an adequate quality to a rapidly expanding urban population is also a source of concern.
Therefore, the high rate of urbanization in Uganda calls for serious attention to effectively tackle the emerging challenges. The inadequate institutional capacity hampers effective integrated planning, development and management; inadequate cooperation, networking and collaboration amongst various actors in the urban sector foregoes the benefits of synergies, under-funding of the urban councils undermines the implementation of urban development plans and efficient delivery of services.
This, therefore, calls for robust and innovative mechanisms that foster and enhance inclusive governance practices to empower the urban dwellers as key partners in the planning and management of the urban councils.
The establishment of the Municipal Development Forums (MDFs) is, therefore, being encouraged to provide a platform for the participation and engagement of stakeholders in the affairs of the urban councils.
The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda under Democratic Principle 3, Articles 17 and 38 alludes to the fact that citizens in a given locality, either in groups or individuals, have a right to participate in the affairs of government. This, therefore, points to the fact that citizens have a constitutional right to direct their destiny in planning and decision-making i.e. not as passive recipients, but active and meaningful partners in development.
The MDFs are platforms established at the municipal level for all stakeholders in the urban sector to: meet regularly, exchange views, debate priorities and agree on common actions on matters pertaining to the urban sector in their Local governement.
They are voluntary platforms that provide space for public dialogue by the urban stakeholders on pressing urban sector challenges.
In 2010, Uganda adopted the Urban Forum Concept, following a resolution by the UN member states at the World Urban Forum Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to foster citizen participation at the urban local level by creating Municipal Development Forums in five municipalities i.e. Mbarara, Mbale, Jinja, Arua and Kabale – under a project – Transformation of Settlements
of the Urban Poor in Uganda; and later in the 14 municipalities under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Project (USMID).
The Municipal Development Forums are currently established in 26 municipalities.MDFs are, therefore, voluntary, multi-skilled platforms and instrumental spaces where citizens represented by civil society or community-based organizations, academics, youth, women, media, etc., come together with municipal authorities to discuss and make decisions about local development, service delivery and governance issues; thereby making local governance more inclusive and representative.
Since their establishment in various urban authorities, the MDFs have stepped up urban transformative and service delivery by holding the councils in the 26 urban authorities accountable to the urban citizenry.
A multiplicity of benefits have been achieved in the urban authorities. These include: regular and consistent enabling environment for urban stakeholders’ participation in urban governance and management; increased social responsibility among citizens in urban campaigns like keep the town clean, among others. MDFs have also played a watchdog role and also enhanced value for money and quality assurance in the spirit of transparency and accountability to citizens in various municipalities.
Urban development forums have also enhanced a sense of community ownership of infrastructure sub projects like community roads, bus parks, markets, etc.
Furthermore, the MDFs have also contributed to strengthening and promoting bottom-up approach to planning and decision-making, which is key under the decentralization framework. Above all, the MDFs have been instrumental in enhancing a sense of community ownership of government projects and programs, through their participation and engagement.
smbogere@gmail.com
The author is the national coordinator, Municipal Development Forums