The causes for street signage vandalism on public infrastructure in Kampala

Abstract

The study was to drivers of street signage vandalism in Kampala Central Division. It was guided by three objectives which included to establish the causes of street signage vandalism in Kampala Central Division, to identify challenges associated with the maintenance of street signage in Kampala Central Division, to suggest strategies for maintenance of street signage in Kampala Central Division. The study adopted exploratory research design was used to investigate the issue at hand. Data was collected from 25 respondents using an interview guide. Study findings indicated there causes of street signage vandalism are scrap value for materials, lack of supervision and minimal law enforcement, Rapid urbanization and population growth and lack of respect for laws. According to the findings, challenges associated with maintenance of street signage include poor public attitudes, vandalism and theft and Limited funding. The strategies as established from the findings indicated that establishing systematic inspections is essential, educating the community about the importance of signage fosters responsibility and encourages public involvement in maintenance efforts, improved communication and collaboration among government agencies, ensuring quicker responses to damaged or missing signage, engaging community members and local organizations in maintenance promotes a sense of ownership were some of the strategies suggested by the respondents. From the findings, it was recommended that there is a need to implement stronger law enforcement measures by increasing police presence in high-vandalism areas to deter potential offenders, community awareness programs should be established to educate residents about the importance of protecting public property and the legal consequences of vandalism, there is a need to enhance public education on the importance of street signage, fostering a culture of respect and responsibility among residents, there is need for increasing funding for maintenance through advocacy for budget allocations or exploring alternative funding sources can help ensure timely repairs and replacement of damaged signs and that there is a need to establish regular inspection protocols to ensure that street signs are consistently monitored and maintained.