Uganda has received financing from the International Development Association, for the National Physical Development Plan (NPDP).
Uganda is among the few African countries with a National Physical Development (Spatial) plan which was approved in November 2023.
Judith Nabakooba, the minister of Lands said NPDP is key in reorganizing and ensuring optimal use of the available land, through several proposed strategies. Globally, demand for land for the various functions is increasing. This demand is even higher with increasing urbanization and population growth rate.
“Overall, national level spatial decisions have not been guided by a well thought out comprehensive spatial framework, which has negatively impacted on the overall spatial development efforts. This has negated the optimal utilization of land and land-based resources, efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure networks, as well as undermining the integrity of the environment especially the eco- sensitive areas,” Nabakooba said.
She said the NPDP connects very well with the current Vision 2040, which aims at transforming Uganda from a predominantly peasant and low-income country to a competitive, middle income, and modern industrialised nation.
Among other things, Nabakooba said the NPDP will enable Uganda increase productivity in agriculture with agro-processing industries and to export markets via the proposed transport corridors. She said urban areas will prosper in the above pattern and become engines of economic growth.
She said the media was very key in the NPDP process and its presence and willingness to be engaged at this level of its launching is very important and very much appreciated.
