Uganda’s governance structures at both the National and Local government levels provide for public participation
in the decision making, and development of all the policies and programs. This is also provided for in the Local
Governments Act and the Guidelines for the planning Cycle. However, there is still a gap in the manner of public
engagement; it remains unstructured and presents as one way, in a sense that Urban Authorities only inform the
communities about the forthcoming planning and developments in their areas, without giving them an opportunity
to participate in the process. Where they have been engaged, it has been a one-o􀈞f activity with no follow up and
feedback attended to.
It is from this background that the Government deemed it important to have a framework that organizes all
urban stakeholders into urban forums, and provides a clear platform for engagement and dialogue. With such a
platform in place, public participation in development matters is assured, as is envisaged in the Constitution and
the Decentralization policy.
The Rationale of the Urban Forums is therefore to engage with Multi-sectoral partners in order to Create
Opportunities, improve the peoples’ wellbeing and realize the rights of the Urban Poor.
60% of the people in urban areas live in informal settlements. Over Seven million people live in urban centers in
Uganda that include Kampala City, 31 Municipalities and 583 Town councils by 2021.
In the past few decades, four main trends have opened up the development arena to non-state actors like the
poor communities, civil society and the private sector. These are; (i) The changing role of governments from their
traditional role as a sole service provider to that of regulator and occasionally facilitator, enabling the private sector,
communities, and multi- stakeholder partnerships to play expanded roles in service provision and management;
communities a􀈞fected by development activities; (iii) increasing e􀈞forts by stakeholders to hold authorities and
projects accountable for their decisions and actions; (iv) Increasing emphasis on good governance, transparent and
participatory decision making, which requires that stakeholders are both consulted and empowered to participate
in decisions that a􀈞fect them.
Obiga Kania (MP)
MINISTER OF STATE FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Download a copy