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Lake Bisina during floods
May 18 2007
Kampala’s Changing Environment
Uganda is experiencing rapid urbanization estimated
at an annual population growth rate of 5.5%. Kampala
has remained the capital city since 1969 with equally a
high annual population growth rate of 5.61%. With this
growth rate, Kampala absorbs 40% of the national urban
population and 4.9% of the national population (UBOS,
2002).
Kampala has also experienced an increase in population,
from 774,241 in 1991 to 1.2 million in 2002 (UBOS 2002).
The population figures reflect the night populations but
the estimates show that these numbers double during
the day, as many people travel to the City for work and
business and return to their homes outside the City at
the end of the day. The population increase in Kampala
metropolitan area is responsible for increased demand
for employment, land for housing, social services
and infrastructure that have stimulated spatial urban
development and industrialization, leading to rapid
environmental changes.
The Kampala suburbs are also experiencing rapid
urbanization leading to development of satellite towns
around the City. Their activities have a strong linkage
with those in the City, which results in additional
pressure on the City resources. Current trends indicate
that these satellite towns may be merged into the
present Kampala to form the Metropolitan Kampala.
Towns likely to be absorbed include Mukono, Entebbe,
Wakiso, Kira, Namungoona, Bweyogere, Kyengera, etc.
This development will act as a catalyst to additional
dynamics of environmental change of the City,
particularly in these outer satellite towns.
Kampala City (2007). Inset: Kampala City (2007)
Kampala City (2005)
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