The Impacts of the Kampala Northern Bypass on Property Values and Economic Developments in Kisalosalo zone

Abstract

This thesis examines how the complex interaction between transport investment and economic development is made manifest, with a particular focus on the macro-level relationship between highway infrastructure and local livelihood changes. It is meant to be a contribution to the current state of empirical knowledge in the South on the impacts between highway infrastructure investment and livelihoods. It therefore offers insight on how cities in the Global South without a strong and enforceable planning regulatory framework, are growing after an investment in transport infrastructure. Qualitative research method is solely employed. The case study area, Kisalosalo zone along the arterial road corridor, is selected with the assumption that knowledge accrued from the zone might be used to understand other areas in close proximity to the Northern Bypass, since similar agglomeration characteristics could be seen elsewhere.

The study reveals that Northern bypass has both a generative and redistributive effect on the economic activities in Kisalosalo zone, but also opines the heightened informality degree of the nature of these activities. It has provided easy emergence of new livelihood opportunities as well as permitting fast land use shifts. The Northern bypass has affected the type and nature of new emerging land uses and activities, but these benefit the middle-income groups more than the poor as the poor are left to cope mainly with the negative changes rather than enjoying the benefits from the highway. The study further reveals an exponential increase in property values in Kisalosalo zone. This is due to the great demand for the newly opened up land and the fact that there is a lot of property speculation in the market place.

The study proposes a couple of recommendations ranging from a redrawing of both the Land use Planning and Zoning principles to integrate pro-poor activities , land policy formulation and implementation, the need for an urban informal sector policy to cater for those who are already engaged and established in informal production, the policy should appeal for regulation other than prohibition of the livelihood initiatives which are currently considered illegal along the highway, to revisiting land tenure, acquisition and resettlement. Resettlement should keep the community in mind rather than the individual.