East African Gazette
Kampala
The City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, has said that before Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) embarks on the redevelopment of the Old Park, consultations should be carried out.
Lukwago, meeting stakeholders with the commuter taxi park industries, said that a feasibility study for redevelopment of Old Taxi Park should be carried out with the involvement of the stakeholders.
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He reiterated his earlier call for the project to be meticulously processed, with every stakeholder on board, further stating that the aspects of Project Funding, Land ownership claims, business continuity and stakeholders’ role must be resolved and agreed upon by all concerned to facilitate the development of the Taxi Park as a Public Asset.
The feasibility study to be undertaken by the Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Urban Development in Africa (DASUDA), is funded by the Dutch government through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Invest International).
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Earlier consultations have been carried out with the City Political leadership and Consultants stakeholders.
He stated that the funding for the actual construction of the Project by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Invest International) , which is still under discussion, will be dependent on how phase-1 of the project is handled, lest it will be an exercise in futility.
The Project was conceived in 2020 to be implemented effectively, the Land ownership claims around the Park need be resolved and the Taxi Park must be developed as a Public Asset, citing an example of Nakivubo Stadium, a Public Asset that has since lost its monumental value under unclear terms.
The City’s Political leaders present included members of City executive ccommittee, Authority speakers, division mayors and sspeakers, who resolved to have further consultation at lower levels to bring all stakeholders on board.
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Others present were leaders of the commuter taxi associations under their umbrella body Kampala Operation Taxi Stages Association (KOTISA) and plot owners around the Old Taxi Park.
The plan to redevelop the Old into a modern facility was hatched in 2008.
However, with many people expressing interest in the park land, multitudes of court battles and politicking the idea now sounds like a distant dream.
Kampala City Council decided to lease out the park to a private developer in 2005 the then Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association went in arms against the move.
The vision to turn the Old Taxi Park into a modern public transport hub is taking shape with the development of a Master Plan by the National Physical Planning Board (NPPB).
The modern terminal is expected to have a two storied parking facility for taxi and city buses, a shopping mall, a twin tower for shops and residential rooms. It will also be linked to the Bus Rapid Transit and Railway network with cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways.
Located in the City centre, the Old Taxi Park is the biggest and busiest public transport terminal in the country. Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) recently refurbished this hub by reconstructing the carpet, improving drainage, and installing lights to enhance the security of the area.
In May, 2022, Amanda Ngabirano, the Chairperson at the National Physical Planning Board (NPPB) presented a draft Master Plan to the Lord Mayor Lukwago and his executive at City Hall.
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The plan is being developed with funding from the Netherlands government and will be ready in three months.
“We met the Lord Mayor to seek his views and the input of councilors before the final Master plan is developed. Developing this has taken us a year and we hope to finish and launch it in August, this year,” Ngabirano said.
She explained that after the refurbishment of the Old Taxi Park (OTP) carpet, another project OTP Accelerator started.
The project known as Omutima Gwa Kampala is expected to be a game changer in Kampala’s transport sector and will improve the beauty of the city.
Lukwago, appreciated the plan and called for support from all stakeholders for it to materialize.
“We are going to study the plan and take it to the lower authorities and give our views,” he said.
He revealed that the Old Taxi Park is very important in the city and is like the identity of the city but is currently poorly planned.
“The plan looks like a fantasy but is achievable. Let the government come and fully support this project. If it is not funded, we will not realize it,” Lukwago said.
He revealed that KCCA has no money to implement the plan which is estimated to cost at least €57 million.
“With this plan we are on the right course of the journey we want to take to make Kampala a modern city,” Lukwago said.