Site evaluation for new eco towns using GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP): a case study Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA)

Abstract

Kampala city is dominated with uncontrolled urban sprawl, unplanned settlements and inadequate provision of social services infrastructure. This has led to inadequate sanitation facilities, unreliable water supply, intermittent electricity, traffic congestion and pollution. These have brought about risks of profound social instability, bigger economic loss, and unplanned slums along the periphery of urbanized areas which is irrevocable and difficulty to set back in the future once settled down. In order to reduce some of the urban problems and future scenarios associated with urbanization there is need to have new satellite eco-towns within the GKMA. The new eco city will form a new focal point outside the city and reduce the existing and future pressure, which will fall on the city and decongest the city This research therefore aims at determining best sites for the location of new satellite eco-towns within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) using GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP).