Cities are increasingly vulnerable to the devastating health impacts of climate change ANALYSIS | DR. NAVEEN RAO | As climate change intensifies, cities remain dangerously unprepared for its health impacts. From New York City to Nairobi, Berlin to Bangalore, climate change is unmistakably affecting our health. Extreme weather events and rising …
Read More »Technology experts meet in Nairobi to promote smart cities in Africa
NAIROBI | Xinhua | Technology experts on Monday met in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to promote the development of smart cities in Africa. The conference on Data-Driven Cities was attended by more than 100 stakeholders composed of senior government officials, the private sector and academia from Africa to foster innovation …
Read More »Review criteria for creation of new cities – West Nile leaders
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Political and opinion leaders in Arua want Parliament to revisit the criteria for creating new cities arguing that the current method is promoting divisions and tribal conflicts. This was during a meeting with the Opposition Members of Parliament led by the Leader of Opposition, …
Read More »New look at Kampala, Kigali and Addis Ababa
They are changing fast: new book follows their distinct paths Kampala, Uganda | ASTRID R.N. HAAS | Kampala, the Ugandan capital where I live, is naturally the city I have studied and worked on the most as an urban economist. Yet even with this background, reading Tom Goodfellow’s recently published book, …
Read More »New cities struggle as ‘mother’ districts fear to let go
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Operationalization of the newly created cities in Uganda is stirring bitter controversies as leaders of mother districts decline to support the new entities. In April 2020, the Uganda government elevated seven municipalities to city status in a phased process that will see more towns become …
Read More »Mbarara to rename 400 city roads and buildings
Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbarara City Council has started the process renaming and naming of 400 old and new roads and buildings within the city. Mbarara City has 330.19 kilometres of roads. Current roads have a diversity of names include Marknsighn, High-street, Mbaguta road, Independence road, Victor Bwana, …
Read More »MPs oppose COVID-19 relief for cities, municipalities only
Mbale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A section of Members of Parliament from rural areas have called for equitable distribution of COVID-19 relief cash across the country. The government has allocated 53 billion Shillings as relief support to vulnerable people in municipalities and cities which are hit hardest by the …
Read More »NEW CITIES: Government moves to further amend Local Government Act
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Local Government Ministry is considering further amendments to the local government Act to introduce provisions too specific to the management of the newly created cities. In July last year, the government started operationalizing seven new cities including Hoima, Mbarara, Mbale, Gulu, Jinja, Masaka …
Read More »Garbage management still a challenge for new cities
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The management of garbage remains a challenge in the newly created cities. The uncollected garbage or litter is common on the streets, in the corridors of buildings, and clogs drainages whenever it rains hence causing unprecedented floods. Despite the expansion of their boundaries, the …
Read More »New cities can’t perform without financial help
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The United Nations Agency in Uganda is worried that the newly created cities will increase the financing burden of the central government and affect the achievement of sustainable development goals. The UN Capital Development Fund, UNCDF, which aims to make public and private finance work for …
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