Project description by jury

Kampala, the principal and capital city of Uganda, suffers from territorial, social and economic fragmentation. The Muyenga-Namuwongo neighborhood, where high- and low-income communities face each other without any interaction, is a striking example of this condition. The goal of the project is to bridge these gaps through the creation of a system defined by a network of punctual and transversal interventions, allowing for people in the different parts of the neighborhood to connect. This system consists of “points”, which refer to social and public areas strategically and equally distributed across the neighborhood, connected by “links” including improved pedestrian and transport infrastructure. Colorful bridges, jogging trails, food markets, train stops, urban gardens, and cultural and recreational facilities are all design elements deployed to transform the neighborhood from a grey/cold space into a green/social district with an improved sense of place. Undeveloped land is converted into open public spaces that accommodate informal economic activities, stimulating the generation of synergies across sectors in different parts of the city and encouraging the creation of a circular economy. Local people are involved throughout the project implementation as co-creators and “curators” – together with the city authorities –of this resilient and sustainable improved community.

People: Co-creation of a sustainable system

People become co-creators with the city authorities of a safe, resilient, and sustainable community through their involvement in creating and maintaining these social spaces. The system takes into account people as custodians of the points and links and therefore ensures social inclusion since everyone is assigned a role to play. The system promotes the use of natural surveillance which keeps the neighbourhood safe and nurtures a sense of ownership within the community residents. The system provides a platform for collaboration between various stakeholders, the community, and authorities, hence empowering the residents. The improved transport and drainage infrastructure promote safe travel and mitigate flooding within the Informal settlement, hence building a more resilient community.

In the competition region of Middle East Africa, the jury selected four entries to receive Next Generation prizes. The winning projects from Uganda, Jordan, Sierra Leone, and Iraq have one thing in common: an intrinsic optimism about the future.