Planning of National Transport Infrastructure
In the Islamic Countries
90
The Uganda NTMP provided the necessary framework and programming. Projects were
identified, pre-feasibility studies helped prioritized them using socio-economic and other
criteria and then following selection detailed project appraisals made. There appears to be
minimal political interference in the process of project selection in Uganda, possibly because
there is so much infrastructure investment.
Transport Infrastructure receive the largest share of the available capital expenditure in the
national budget. Of the UDX 23 trillion budget works and transport will receive 20.1%36 or UGX
4.6 trillion or about $1.2 Billion. This represents a huge commitment by the Government to
infrastructure and faith in its ability to stimulate the economy and improve the lives of its
citizens. It must be pointed out that there is no direct reference to the NTMP 2008-2023 in the
formulation of the 2018/19 budget although its intellectual influence is apparent. It is important
to note that 55% of the funding for transport infrastructure is from international funding
agencies. Their heavy commitment also means that they have a positive influence to the
processes of planning, implementation and evaluation.
From discussions with local officials and responses to the questionnaire it is considered that
level of consultation and stakeholder participation in NTI planning that includes other sectors
other than transport planning institutions is good. From meetings with district councils in the
south west of Uganda that involved the expert, there appeared to have been some consultations.
The Uganda National Roads Authority Act stipulates that the ‘Authority shall, in achieving its
purposes under section 2 take into account and give effect to the following to consult and
cooperate with departments, branches and agencies of the government and with utility agencies
in the interests of improving accessibility to, or within, any area in Uganda’. The inclusion of
assessment of transport user needs (market survey/research) to shape the transport agenda is
carried out as far as the road user is concerned as shown in the survey data that it mentioned in
this case study. However, the extent to which transport investment decision making includes
the assessment of users’ affordability need much further development in Uganda. All public
transport is operated privately and there is no control of fares. Unfortunately, the extent of
private funding of transport services and infrastructure has not been estimated, but it is
important to do so. The examination of alternative solutions included in planning procedure in
order to come up with optimized investments decisions is carried out by the consultants that
are engaged to make the studies.
For example, KCCA policy is to have a pro transit orientated and has considered various types of
mass public transport in their part of the NTMP and these include Light Rail and Bus Rapid
Transit. The Plan objectives depend on the role of the private sector though specifity of
subsidisation is vague and funding is vague. Moreover, the need for a Greater Kampala
Metropolitan Area to promote and sponsor the Transit Systems has yet to gain a political
foothold. The coordination between local authorities in promoting integrated land use and
transport solutions cannot be overstated.
36 Available fro