Justification for this Project.
Uganda is taking bold steps to modernize land and physical development planning across the country. The Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), in partnership with the National Planning Authority (NPA), is leading efforts to equip local governments with the tools, guidelines, and expertise needed to manage land use, enforce compliance, and align local development plans with the National Physical Development Plan (NPDP).
Officials from districts including Amolatar, Adjumani, and Karenga participated in a national planning workshop where discussions focused on validating planning guidelines, handling land-use changes, and implementing the physical planning compliance assessment tool. The Permanent Secretary of MoLG emphasized the importance of standardizing procedures, strengthening collaboration, and building local capacity to ensure effective planning nationwide.
Acknowledging challenges, the Permanent Secretary noted that some local governments struggle with limited funding, insufficient staff, and non-functional planning committees. These gaps have contributed to unplanned developments, strained infrastructure, and hampered community growth. To address this, MoLG is partnering with the College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) to deploy graduate trainees who will assist local governments in producing affordable and practical development plans.
NPA COMMITTS FULL SUPPORT
Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of NPA, announced dedicated funding for physical planning and streamlined reporting lines to improve accountability. He encouraged governments to rely on in-house expertise rather than costly consultants and urged trained planners to act as trainers of trainers (ToTs), cascading knowledge to districts and grassroots communities.
This initiative marks a major step toward coordinated, professional, and sustainable land planning in Uganda, curbing unplanned growth, enhancing compliance, and laying the foundation for social and economic transformation nationwide.
BY. Jengo Eria
