Urban Land Use Planning and Housing and Settlement Development in Newly Created Town Councils: Evidence from Rwampara District, Uganda

Abstract

Rapid urbanisation is transforming Uganda’s emerging urban centres faster than local planning systems and infrastructure can adjust. This paper examined the relationship between urban land use planning and housing and settlement development in four newly created town councils of Rwampara District, Southwestern Uganda. An independent mixed-methods cross-sectional analysis was undertaken using quantitative data from 303 household respondents and qualitative evidence from 18 key informants drawn from local government planning, engineering, administration, and community development functions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product-moment correlation, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Urban land use planning was rated below the neutral benchmark overall (M = 2.88, SD = 0.71). Enforcement of building regulations (M = 2.78), adequacy of roads, drainage and public spaces (M = 2.88), and clarity and efficiency of building approval procedures (M = 2.62) were particularly weak. Urban land use planning was strongly and positively associated with housing and settlement development (r = .742, p < .01). Key informants linked weak enforcement, limited staffing, inadequate financing, and political pressure to uncoordinated settlement growth and infrastructure deficits. The paper concludes that planning matters substantially for settlement quality even in low-capacity emerging urban jurisdictions, but plans alone are insufficient without development control, infrastructure sequencing, accessible approval systems and meaningful community participation. It recommends strengthening local planning capacity, digitising and simplifying development approvals, protecting infrastructure corridors, linking physical plans to capital investment, and institutionalising participatory monitoring.