An analysis of non-conformity of land use in jinja municipality with reference to the Jinja municipality land use plan of 1994-2004

Abstract

The study analyzed the non-conformity of land use in Jinja municipality with reference to the municipality land use plan of 1994 - 2004. This research was prompted by the fact that upon going through the town one is able to notice a lot of disorder which reflects anomalies that have ensued over time. It investigated the forms of non-conformity existing in land use in Jinja municipality, factors responsible for divergences in current land use and how non- conformity in land use is being addressed. One hundred fifty three (153) people were involved in this research, 54 of whom were subjected to questionnaires because they were literate while the rest were subjected to oral interviews in a bid to collect primary data. Observation and documentation were done in the field alongside photography to establish the ongoing forms of land use visa vis the land use plan of 1994-2004. Findings revealed that although there is evidence of conformity in land use to the 1994-2004 land use plan in some areas, there are many cases of unconformity discovered in the town in places of residence, the central business district, the green belt, the institutional land and the industrial land. For instance within residential areas there are educational institutions and business enterprises, the industrial areas are encroached on by places of worship, the communication system is littered with rubbish and used as parking yard for Bodaboda cycles, while the wetlands arc being encroached on by industries. This bas resulted from people either being adamant or having limited knowledge on what is expected of them. However some effort to avert the situation is being done for instance restraining people from illegal land uses and giving approval to settlers before they settle. In conclusion, land use nonconformity is of challenge in Jinja and is bound to affect other towns but with concerted effort it can be overcome. It is therefore recommended to the central government to do constant monitoring and evaluation in the field and close any administrative gaps, while to the municipal technical staff it is recommended that they should get closer to the people and give them technical guidance and support to avoid errors that can be made and that the land users should be alert and knowledgeable on what is expected of them, and they should also be submissive to legal authority.