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Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Arua city has received a new physical development plan that seeks to organize land use and create order. The plan which will run from 2022 to 2040 stipulates areas that will accommodate infrastructures such as industrial parks, agricultural fields, hospitals, and schools among others.
The new physical development plan covers an area of 401.8 square kilometers, nearly more than 30 times bigger than the previous one which covered only 10.5 square kilometers.
The plan was developed by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Mott MacDonald under “Greening Uganda’s Urbanization and Industrialization project with support from the European Union.
Presenting the plan at Arua City Council on Wednesday, Samuel Wafula, the urban planning specialist at Mott MacDonald said that part of the plan is the introduction of inner and outer bypasses to decongest traffic in the city.
A total of 76 kilometers of new roads have also been proposed to supplement the existing 206km access roads. The new physical development plan also proposes inner and outer ring roads of 25.7 kilometers and 10.6 kilometers respectively. The area of Riki in Ayivu division have been designated for industrial parks.
In a bid to promote sports activities, the new plan proposes to establish playgrounds in every ward and open space in every cell. Four stadiums have also been proposed namely, Abi stadium in Obopi west cell in Odravu ward, in addition to Arua Hill, Onduparaka, Odramacako stadiums.
Jackie Kemigisha, a member of the National Physical Planning Board tasked the city authorities to mobilize funds for the implementation of the plan.
Under the plan, the current central business district of the city has been expanded to cover parts of Tanganyika, Awindi, Kenya, Mvara, Anyafiyo central, Anyafiyo, Oyoze wards among others. The new plan also provides for infrastructure projects of low-cost housing in the slummy areas of Kenya ward and others parts of Oli.
Moses Findru, the City Senior Physical Planner says the plan has come at the right time before physical planning in the city gets messed up.
To address waste management challenges, the plan has proposed two additional waste management sites to be established in Ongla in Mite ward, Nunu cell, and Ombavu in Micu, all in Ayivu division.
Marlon Avutia, the Ayivu Division Mayor warned the leaders against politicking the new physical development plan, noting that it could compromise its implementation once approved.
According to Sam Wadri Nyakua, the Mayor Arua City, his administration will ensure that the physical development plan is implemented to the latter after being approved by the government.
Currently, the draft physical development plan is being displayed on notice boards at the city, division, former sub-counties headquarters, and other major centers for 90 days to allow feedback from the public.
After the expiry of the 90 days, the consultant will make necessary changes before presenting the plan to Arua city physical planning committee and later to the City council for approval and then the National Physical Planning Board for final approval.
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I just wish this physical plan for Arua city remains like that until it’s approved by the National physical planning Committee.thank you
that physical plan didn’t consist of public interest but political interest therefore the community should be involved before the approval of the plan: Never approve what doesn’t satisfy the community: