Burden or boon? – the case for urban agriculture

Until 2001, urban agriculture practitioners in Uganda had often been regarded as a nuisance – residents complained about livestock wandering across roads and were concerned about the health and safety aspects of farming in built-up areas. Despite the evidence that urban agriculture was propelled by economic necessity, the city’s colonial bylaws insisted that urban agriculture was inappropriate in cities. Nevertheless, urban agriculture continued to persist, demonstrating that the reality of people’s lives in the light of continuing food and income insecurity would continue to override any adverse legislation regarding the practice of urban agriculture. A growing movement, supported by increased research evidence and enabled by political decentralization that encouraged greater local accountability, began to champion an alternative viewpoint: that urban agriculture, properly legislated for, could encourage poverty reduction and empower urban food producers in their efforts to support themselves and their families.

The way forward?

By 2003 the Kampala City Council District Extension Office, in collaboration with the Kampala Urban Food Security, Agriculture and Livestock Coordination Committee (KUFSALCC), had begun the process of legitimizing and regulating all forms of urban agriculture. Importantly, they included in their consultations a range of stakeholders, including urban farmers, whose suggestions and recommendations were frequently adopted by the city council. By 2005, urban agriculture was legalized in Kampala and has been steadily encouraged by municipal authorities. View the Kampala ordinance guidelines: fish milkmeat livestock and companion animalurban agriculture 

The History of Diagnostic Studies in Kampala

Since independence, urban agriculture in Kampala has been on the increase. However, until the early 1990s, the prevailing laws worked against it and studies and documentation about its existence were thin on the ground.

1988 In 1988 an American student, Daniel Maxwell, undertook seminal work that uncovered the role of urban agriculture (UA) as an economic strategy of the poor and profiled its impact on food security. During his research, links were established with Agricultural Extension Officers (AEOs) and policy officers. Yet skepticism about urban agriculture remained and recommendations on UA were not implemented.

1990s Throughout the 1990s students from the University of Makerere added to the growing body of evidence about UA in Kampala and IDRC established a programme of international research. The NGO Environmental Alert became involved and the Kampala City Council began to build capacities for UA within its planning.

1999 The CGIAR established what was to become their Urban Harvest (UH) programme. Along with the initiatives from IDRC and others, this marked more systematic and coordinated research into urban agriculture (UA). The practice of UA and policies regarding it could no longer be ignored. The Kampala City Council (KCC) began to review its existing local laws regarding UA.

 2002-2005/6 From 2002, Urban Harvest established two research programmes in Kampala, thus bringing together a previously informal coalition of local partners into more formal collaboration. Although some council members still viewed UA as an illegal activity, more cooperation between them, NGOs and researchers was apparent. With Urban Harvest playing a coordinating role, the projects covered a wide range of socio-economic and technical research. Policy issues took on a major role. Beyond Kampala, in Addis Ababa, a ministerial meeting declared the need for appropriate policy changes to support urban food security and production and, in 2003, the Kampala team advocated supportive legislation for UA, developing a plan for livestock research, policy and planning in the city. Funding was secured from the UK’s Department for International Development (DfID). By August 2003 a series of consultative workshops reflecting on research evidence and practical experiences of UA led to stakeholders pressing for a revision to the draft ordinances. The Health Coordination Committee (HCC), which had steered one of the projects, supported the revision process. The mayor of Kampala added his high level support. In 2004 the HCC became the Kampala Urban Food Security, Agriculture and Livestock Coordinating Committee (KUFSALCC), marking the formalization of a group that had worked together since the late 1990s. With funding from DfID, KUFSALCC produced plans for production, distribution and field testing of guidelines to the ordinances. On 11th May, 2005, the Mayor of Kampala gave his assent to the new ordinances.

2006 onwards

Sustainable Neighborhood Focus Project – Kawaala-Kasubi, Kampala This major project is set to run until 2010. Discover more about why Kampala is one of nine cities throughout the world selected to undertake the IDRC'S Focus City Research Initiative