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A city Can’t Be More Successful Than Its Inhabitants

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By Mohammed Kimbugwe

The success of an Urban Area is a direct reflection of the relative success of its people and it is close to impossible to rest the growth of an Urban Area on the shoulders of its impoverished dwellers!

Other factors holding constant, Kampala is a perfect reflection of the financial status of its inhabitants.

According to Uganda Bureau of statistics, the national poverty level increased from 19.7 per cent in the financial year 2012/13 to 21.4 per cent in 2016/2017. Whereas the poverty figures are higher for rural areas than they are for urban ones, this poverty directly reflects on the quality of our urban areas, especially the capital.

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It is also important to note that the gap between the real incomes of the rural and urban poor is interestingly so narrow that there have even been cases of reverse migration, from urban to rural areas.

I’ve heard some argue that the number of vehicles in the city is an indicator that people are successful but if I may paraphrase the remarks of Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, a developed city is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transport.

Take the example of New York. As an international financial centre, New York City is distinguished by its low ownership of personal automobiles and the highest rate of public transportation use in the United States. It is a city in which over half of all households do not own a car, and in Manhattan this figure even reaches 75%; and these are figures from five years ago!

To qualify for the award of the degree of Bachelor Of Urban And Regional Planning at Makerere University, I did research on ”The Impact Of Urban Poverty On The Implementation Of Urban Planning Policies” and Iganga Town Council (now Municipality) was my area of study!

I discovered that NO TOWN/CITY/URBAN AREA CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN ITS INHABITANTS!

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I concluded that for any Urban Area to even think of growth, its managers must have a clear strategy aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of its inhabitants!

Between the 18th and 19th centuries, predominantly agrarian, rural societies in Europe and America became Industrial and inevitably Urban!

This came with a surge in creativity in the areas of Manufacturing, Housing, Transportation, Communication and Banking. It obviously came with challenges too, including squalid settlements and poor sanitation which directly gave birth to strict legislation guiding Urban Planning!

This, in turn, gave birth to some of the world’s greatest cities that we admire today!

The key lessons there, are, that the world’s greatest cities were built around BOOMING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY and that the world’s greatest cities were built around INCOME EARNERS.

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A smart Urban Planner/Manager would therefore put primary emphasis on improving the livelihoods of Urban inhabitants through encouraging enterprise, a vibrant informal sector, easing the transition from informal to formal business, creating a conducive environment for ”petty” traders, creating a symbiotic relationship between petty traders and established ones, encouraging urban agriculture and value addition, as well as a whole lot of other measures aimed at improving the livelihoods of Urban Inhabitants.

A smart Urban Planner/Manager must focus on long term interventions and planning discipline as opposed to cosmetic measures!

Some of the world’s greatest cities that we admire today have been shaped by centuries of deliberate effort and we must quit thinking of turning Kampala around in one Kisanja, unless we have a budget as big as Dubai’s!

So, this is where we must put our focus:

1. Eradication Of Urban Poverty.

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a) Avail land- (earmark) specific places where small scale craftsmen like carpenters, metal fabricators and mechanics can do their business.

b) Create rotational street markets in various parts of the city, from Monday to Sunday, where these petty vendors can also earn a living. E.g Monday- Kamwokya, Tuesday- Wandegeya, Wednesday- Natete e.t.c!

c) Extend both employment and shopping closer to the people. Why must every public office, ministry, Supermarket be in the CBD??

2. Tackle Urban Housing.

Once the people begin to make some ”sensible” money, think about how and where they sleep. Clearly zone out high density, medium density and low density residential areas, attract partners to invest in the various classes of Urban housing, confident that your empowered Urban citizens will comfortably afford it.

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3. Urban Transport.

You can then embark on a major Urban circulation project, keeping in mind maximum functionality of roads, a clear inter-play between public and private transport as well as non motorised means of transport.

4. Urban Services And Utilities.

At this point, the assumption is that city dwellers are now financially empowered, are sleeping well and reaping the benefits of good Urban circulation, so they can afford water, electricity, sewerage, sophisticated solid waste management and sophisticated storm water drainage.

NB
1. All the above must be guided by clear STRUCTURE and DETAILED plans that are crafted with the involvement of all stakeholders, including the public.

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2. The above mentioned interventions may overlap from time to time and place to place depending on need and urgency, but the focus must remain clear.

#IncludeEveryone

#Meddiecine

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Singer Bruno K Exposed For Neglecting His Son, Claims He Only Has One Child

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The internet has been abuzz following accusations leveled against Bruno Kiggundu, popularly known as Bruno K, over his alleged neglect of his son, Seth Kiggundu. In a tweet, a user identified as Keith alleged that Bruno K had abandoned his only son, Seth, and only pays attention to his daughter, Briella.

Keith claimed that Vanessa, his best friend, had a baby boy with Bruno K, and the singer had refused to fulfill his parental responsibilities towards Seth. He further accused Bruno of making Vanessa’s life difficult in 2022, which caused her to loathe the singer.

While it is essential to respect the baby’s privacy, it is crucial to hold public figures accountable for their actions, especially when they involve the welfare of children. The allegations against Bruno K are serious and should not be taken lightly.

Child abandonment is a severe issue that affects many children worldwide. It is a form of child neglect that can lead to adverse effects on a child’s development, including emotional and behavioral problems. Children who are abandoned by their parents may experience feelings of rejection, anger, and low self-esteem, which can lead to depression and anxiety.

As a public figure, Bruno K has a responsibility to set a good example for his fans and followers, especially young people. Neglecting one’s child is not only morally wrong but also illegal under Ugandan law. The Children’s Act of Uganda provides that every child has the right to parental care and protection, and any parent who neglects their child can be charged with child abuse.

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It is not clear whether the allegations against Bruno K are true, but if they are, he should take responsibility for his actions and do the right thing for his son. Children need both parents to grow up happy and healthy, and neglecting one’s child is unacceptable.

In conclusion, the allegations against Bruno K are serious, and if true, they represent a worrying trend of child neglect in Uganda. As a society, we must hold public figures accountable for their actions and demand that they do the right thing for their children. Let us all strive to create a safe and nurturing environment for all children, regardless of their family background.

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Speaker Rt. Hon. Anita Among Orders Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi To Stop Making Excuses For Not Establishing The Tribunal

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Speaker of parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among has ordered the Minister of Information, Communications, Technology, and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi to stop making excuses for not establishing the tribunal which she said has been pending for a long.

The speaker’s order followed Dr. Chris Baryomunsi’s attribution of the delay to create the Uganda Communications Tribunal to the recent Cabinet decision on the rationalization of agencies.

The speaker of Parliament Among emphasized the need for the tribunal in place.

“We need a tribunal. How sure are you that we are going to rationalize [government agencies]? We want a tribunal in UCC; we cannot do ad-hoc kind of operations,” Among said.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Act makes provision for the creation of a tribunal that is supposed to handle complaints relating to the decisions of UCC as provided under Sections 60 and 64 of the Act.

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“Work [to create a tribunal] was undertaken by my ministry but we are discussing it in the context of rationalization. The Executive is undertaking the rationalization exercise where agencies and departments are being reviewed and we couldn’t proceed to establish the tribunal. The cabinet cannot allow us to create new agencies,” Baryomunsi said. or enable JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.

He said this during the Wednesday, 22 March 20223 plenary sitting where he tabled the Uganda Communications (Fees and Fines) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023.
The regulations provide for fees and fines to be paid by telecommunication and broadcasting companies for spectrum or frequency access in order to improve telecommunication services.

His response was prompted by the Leader of Opposition (LOP), Hon. Mathias Mpuuga who accused the minister of ‘sleeping on the job’ by failing to fulfill the provisions of the UCC Act in regard to the creation of the communications tribunal.

“We have raised severally in our alternative policies the question of the minister failing to appoint the UCC tribunal. The minister is now the tribunal; he is acting as the complainant, prosecutor, and judge at the same time. The Ministry [of ICT] is holding media houses at ransom with no recourse to this tribunal,” Mpuuga said.

The Speaker referred the Regulations to the Committee on ICT and National Guidance for scrutiny with a strong caution to UCC not to start collecting fees until Parliament approves the regulations.
Section 93 of the UCC Act, 2013 states that, ‘the minister may, after consultation with the Commission and with the approval of Parliament, by statutory instrument, make regulations for better carrying into effect the provisions of this Act’.

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Anti-gay Bill Will Impinge Upon Universal Human Rights, Jeopardize Progress In Fight Against HIV/AIDS In Uganda-White House

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The White House and the European Union (EU) have joined the United Nations (UN) and other human rights groups in condemning the just passed Anti-homosexuality Bill.

The Bill that awaits assent from the president was passed by MPs on Tuesday night after a seven-hour heated session.

The bill introduces stricter penalties for people engaged in same-sex activities in Uganda including the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality.

It also proposes life in prison for the offense of “homosexuality” and up to 10 years in jail for attempted homosexuality.

Now White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre says the Bill is one of the most extreme laws targeting homosexuality in the world.

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She warns that this will not only impinge upon universal human rights, jeopardize progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS but will also deter tourism and damage Uganda’s international reputation.

“We have great concerns with the passage of the Anti-homosexuality Act by the parliament of Uganda and increasing violence targeting LGBTQI+ persons,” Karine said.

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