Harnessing Geospatial Technologies for Sustainable Urban Planning in the Newly Created Cities in Uganda Using Rapid Physical Planning Approach (RAPPA): A Case Study of Hoima City

Abstract

Uganda created new cities in 2020 to strengthen its competitiveness for sustainable wealth creation and inclusive growth. However, this was not matched with capacities to move the process. Physical planning is one way through which to kick-start this process. Convectional planning processes demand lengthy procedures which hardly bear immediate solutions given the inadequate capacity to prepare sustainable plans. The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD) introduced Rapid Physical Planning Ap proach (RAPPA) to promote orderly urban development in the country. RAPPA had never been independently employed by urban local governments, hence the need to build capacity of local governments to capture, analyze and use data in planning decisions. The study employed mixed methods approach involving field reconnaissance surveys and GISlab drills. Findings indicate that Hoima city has multiple stakeholders including Technical Planning Committee , Executive, Council agents and land lords that participate in planning activities. About 90% of technical personnel had never had exposure to geospatial technologies. The study recommends use of simple open-source software like Quantum GIS to respond to planning problems, training and retooling of technical personnel to effectively participate in planning activities and to embrace RAPPA as a planning approach.