Arua residents demand sensitization on physical development plan

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Residents of Arua city have asked the physical planning department to extend the new draft Physical development plan information to rural areas.

This comes after residents of Adumi attacked Benard Atiku, the Chairperson of Arua City Land Board, and former MP Ayivu County for his decision to locate the proposed city cemetery in their area.

They argue that they don’t see the relevance of displaying the draft physical development plan at the former seven sub-county headquarters yet there are no technical persons who can explain to them what the plan entails.

Grace Namuli, a nurse at Ombidrodria health centre III in Ayivu division says people are lacking information regarding the new draft physical development plan despite efforts by the city to display the plan.

Titus Acewere, the chairperson of Ayivu Business Association is concerned that some unscrupulous politicians are taking advantage of the information gap to mislead the locals to reject the plan.

According to Cesear Draecabo, the President of the Arua City Development Forum, if people lack information regarding the proposed physical development plan, its implementation will be difficult.

Last Month, Arua City Council received the draft of a physical development plan that seeks to among others organize land use and create order. The plan which will run from 2022 to 2040 was developed by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Mott MacDonald under “Greening Uganda’s Urbanization and Industrialization project with support from the European Union.

Moses Findru, the Arua City Senior Physical Planner has blamed the situation on lack of funds. He says their plan was to reach every ward in the city.

The new physical development plan covers an area of 401.8 sqkm, nearly thirty-eight times bigger than the previous one which covered only 10.5sqkm.

Geoffrey Feta, the Member of Parliament for Ayivu East Constituency in Arua City says sensitization of the residents about the plan is important if the locals are to own it.

After the expiry of the 90 days of the display, the consultant will make necessary changes before presenting the plan to Arua city physical planning committee and later to the City Council for approval and then the National Physical Planning Board for final approval.

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