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* REPORT : 108
REPORT FOR THE GROUND BREAKING LAUNCH OF THE SLUM DWELLERS PILOT HOUSING PROJECT IN KISENYI III
1st October 2007
Since the Slum Upgrading Programme in
The day was filled with heavy rains
throughout, but this did not stop the federation members headed with a band
from marching in the rain and the mud. They were holding banners and wearing
T-shirts and caps reading ‘THE NATIONAL SLUM DWELLERS FEDERATION- ACTING TOGETHER FOR BETTER HOUSING’,
with Actogether and the French Cooperation logos. The Federation marched from
Kisenyi III Sanitation Unit where the houses are to be built to the ring road
(Kabaka’s palace). From the ring road as earlier planned, all federation
members matched to Nakivubo blue Primary School to welcome the invited Guests
and Guest of Honour.
Savers from Kawempe (around 12 people per
group representing 5 savings groups) and from Jinja (30 people representing 5
savings groups) came to participate to the event. SDI partners also came to
From Nakivubo Blue primary School, government officials, guests and the Federation all marched back to Kisenyi III for the Ground breaking Ceremony, which constituted the main event of the day. Under the rain, the area councillor Mr. Athuman Mutaasa welcomed members and made a short introduction. The Coordinator of the National Slum Dwellers Federation Mr.Hassan Kiberu gave the project’s background and sent his word of thanks to the government, SDI, the various donors involved and the NGO Actogether.
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Ground Breaking Ceremony and Speeches – Councilor Mutaasa Athuman with the Chief Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development M. Atubo (right) – 1st Oct 2007
The Guest of Honour to ground break was the Honourable Chief Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr.Omara Atubo. In his speech, the Minister informed the gathering that the government was fighting slums, that such poverty was not acceptable to be seen (he pointed at the children gathering in front) and he blamed the slum dwellers for living in such poverty; he thanked the various donors who contributed to the project and informed the audience that the Ministry has been involved since the start in the initiative.
The ground where the first houses are to be built was broken, then everyone marched back to Nakivubo Blue primary school where Celebrations and Speeches to mark the World Habitat Day were held. At Nakivubo Blue, the Slum Dwellers Federation and Actogether had exhibited different things like; Articles from the local Newspapers about Evictions, living conditions in slums among other issues related to slums. Photos from other SDI Countries were also displayed, plans for the houses to be built, a model were all shown to the people.
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Exhibition boards
and model house at the
1st Oct 2007
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The celebrations began by a National Anthem and later;
Welcome remark from the area L.C.I
Speech from Coordinator of the National Slum Dwellers Federation
The Master of Ceremony for the occasion was
Mr. Mabala Emmanuel –Commissioner for Lands, who welcomed the Coordinator of
the National Slum Dwellers Federation Mr.Hassan Kiberu to give a speech on
behalf of the Federation. He began by recognising the different Government
officials and then the Federation. He gave the History of the Slum Upgrading
Programme
Hassan Kiberu at the event |
Federation members at the event |
Speech from
Kampala
Member Of Parliament- Mr.Elias Lukwago
He informed the gathering about his concern
of the increased land evictions threats and land wrangles in his constituency
and, he called upon the government to look at the land issue in
He also highlighted about the poor housing
condition that the people of
Speech from the Deputy major -
Kampala
Central.
She informed the gathering that she was representing the mayor who was away for some work. She began by thanking the Federation for their endeavour to uplift their living conditions by joining hands together.
Speech from UNDP Resident Representative
He noted that the theme for this year’s World Habitat Celebration is A SAFE CITY IS A JUST ONE explaining to the people that there is need for all cities to be safe so that the residents feel at easy. He also recognised the presence of Slum Dwellers federation and thanked them for their work.
Speech from the Third Deputy Prime Minister
The guest of Honour for the celebrations
was The Third Deputy Prime Minister,
Mr. Kirunda Kivenjinja. He began by thanking the organisers and
highlighted that the government is ready to fight and see that no evictions
take place. He noted that the government is working to see that most of the Ugandans
are living in better housing conditions. He highlighted about the theme of this
year’s celebrations that the Ugandan government is fighting to
see that the citizens are living in a safe city with all required resources
given to the citizens. He further informed the gathering that the government
has been fighting issues like Urban Crime, violence so that
Immediately after the guest of Honour’s speech, he went to see the exhibitions of the slum Dwellers Federation and he was given explanations about the houses plans and the savings. The occasion ended at 2pm, then all federation members went to Kisenyi where lunch and sodas were prepared for all.
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SDI guests from
Federation Meeting
As members
were having lunch, reports from different countries and groups were given; The
other SDI country representatives introduced themselves to the Ugandan savers
and encouraged members to keep up their efforts and continue saving and
organising themselves. They shared their successful experiences in
They noted that the Kisenyi savers are seriously challenged by the groups from Jinja and Kawempe who are younger but more active and numerous. They suggested that the Ugandan Federation is mainly strong thanks to these new groups.
The meeting ended at evening time and all savers from Jinja, Kawempe went back to their places of residence. SDI guests were dropped at their hotel and the rain finally stopped.
The event greatly encouraged the Ugandan federation members. They are more than ever enthusiastic and eager to start construction.
By Evelyn Nankanja
