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What Stakeholders Must Do to Rebuild Trust
By Our Reporter
KAMPALA –Uganda | SHIFTMEDIA | July 25, 2025- On a rainy afternoon in Kawempe Tula, Hajjat Madina Musoke watches murky water flood her compound. “They installed traffic lights down the road,” she says, “but I can’t remember the last time someone came to fix our drainage.” Her frustration mirrors that of thousands across Kampala—residents who feel left out of decisions that shape the very roads they walk, the air they breathe, and the water they wade through when it rains.
Kampala is growing at a breakneck speed, now home to over 45 million Ugandans, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. With that growth comes pressure—on roads, drains, transport, and housing. Billions have been poured into infrastructure development through initiatives like the Kampala Institutional and Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP 2) and the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP). Yet, the gaps between planning and people remain wide.
CoST Uganda, a chapter of the global Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, recently launched a pilot dubbed the “Responsible Infrastructure Project.” Its goal is simple but bold: to test whether publicly sharing information—such as appraisal reports, procurement details, and climate impact assessments—can help communities understand and influence the projects unfolding around them.
“We believe infrastructure should not happen to people; it should happen with them,” says Geoffrey Odong, the CoST Uganda Manager.
Their pilot, run in partnership with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), examined whether 32 Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standards (OC4IDs) could improve transparency in how projects are selected and funded. And while data is slowly being released, what it reveals is a familiar story: procurement may be open, but decision-making remains closed.
Makindye’s Town Clerk, Thomas Sentongo, put it plainly: “Who decides which roads get paved, and which communities get left in the mud? Often, it’s not us—and it’s not the people either.”
So what should change? Here’s what our investigations—and the voices from Kampala’s neighborhoods—suggest:
KCCA Must Listen More and Tell More
Residents like Jenifer Nakimuli of Lukuli only discover a road is being rebuilt when construction trucks show up. “There’s no notice, no meeting, no nothing,” she says.
KCCA must institutionalize public consultations before projects begin. Transparency must move beyond procurement documents to include needs assessments, design blueprints, and implementation timelines. And communities need channels to give feedback—not just after the fact, but from the start.
Government Must Make Climate Finance Work for the People
Uganda has received over $470 million in infrastructure loans in recent years, much of it tagged for climate adaptation. Yet floods, dust, and poor air quality remain everyday struggles.
“We hear about climate finance, but we don’t see it,” says Herbert Mukiibi, a mechanic in Nalukolongo. “Our kids still get sick when it rains.”
The government should ensure that these funds are directly benefiting those most affected by the climate crisis—especially in informal settlements. Storm water management, walkways, and community-managed waste systems are more urgently needed than smart traffic lights in some areas.
CoST Uganda Should Push Further and Wider
CoST’s initiative is a step in the right direction. But to truly change the game, their data standards and transparency tools must be scaled beyond pilot projects.
More importantly, CoST should partner with civil society groups and local media to translate data into stories people understand. A published procurement document means little if the community can’t read it—or act on it.
The Bigger Picture
As Kawempe Mayor Dr. Emmanuel Serunjogi warned, “Urban pressure is pushing people into wetlands. And we can’t solve a climate crisis with concrete alone.”
If Kampala is to survive its growing pains, infrastructure must be built not just for the people, but with them. Public trust can no longer be an afterthought—it must be the foundation.
As the rains keep falling and frustrations keep rising, one truth is clear: the road to resilience is not just paved with concrete. It’s paved with accountability, inclusion, and the voices of those who call the city home.
