An Assessment of the Influence of Industrial Parks on Land Use Transformations in Uganda: The case of Kampala Industrial and Business Park

Abstract

The study assessed the influence of industrial parks on land use transformations with specific reference to the Kampala Industrial and Business Park (KIBP). The study adopted a cross sectional research design involving qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study employed a sample survey in which the industrial firms were a unit of analysis. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data on the characterization of industrial units and economic impacts of KIBP on surrounding parishes. The industries at KIBP and the land use transformation were mapped and characterized and their total economic impact quantified. Analysis of spatial data was done using GIS to cluster and classify the land use transformations. The study found out that industrial firms at KIBP are randomly distributed and are characterized according to; type of business activity, number of employees, market orientation, industrial linkages and sources of raw materials. The majority of industries in KIBP were involved in heavy manufacturing (30.0%), employed between 11-100 employees (33.3%), produced for the local market (46.7%), had forward linkages amongst themselves at 53.1% and got their major raw materials from within Uganda (39.3 %). In the period 1996-2016, various land use transformations occurred in the parishes surrounding KIBP in both Kiira and Mukono Municipalities. The built-up area increased by 369.6%, farming reduced by 3%, forest reduced by 87%, wetlands increased by 106.2%, open water reduced by 60%. Total economic impact results indicated that over the period 1996-2016, surrounding parishes experienced changes in population density, local government investment, land values, new business registration, property values and new building plans submitted. The study concludes that different land use transformations have occurred in the surrounding parishes to KIBP and they include built up, farming, forests, wetland and open water land uses, thus the presence of KIBP has highly contributed towards the land use changes in the neighboring parishes through its spillover effects.