Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA and Mak-RIF) Engagement

As part of efforts to strengthen strategic collaborations, Mak-RIF hosted a delegation from KCCA for a high-level engagement aimed at aligning research outputs with urban development priorities.

Key Highlights:

• Strengthening Partnerships

Prof. Eddy Walakira, representing the GMC Chairperson, welcomed KCCA’s engagement and shared that over 30 relevant Mak-RIF-funded projects had been presented for potential collaboration. These span key urban themes such as waste management, public health, climate resilience, transport, and innovation.

• A partnership agreement and Legal Considerations:

The draft partnership agreement enriched with KCCA’s input, had been submitted to Makerere University’s Legal Department for review. However, KCCA advised that a simpler mechanism, such as official meeting minutes and a concise partnership agreement, would be more practical and faster to operationalize due to government approval protocols.

• Research and Innovation Opportunities Identified:

KCCA highlighted a number of critical areas where Mak-RIF-supported research could have significant impact, particularly:

• 1. Behaviour change interventions for household-level waste sorting.
  2. Incentive-based models for plastic waste collection and recycling.
  3. Development of waste tracking systems.
  4. Protection of infrastructure from vandalism.
  5. Biological recycling approaches using maggots and other organisms for protein production.

• Urban Policy Priorities Discussed:

 The meeting further explored thematic areas for collaboration, including:

• 1. Solid Waste Management – Addressing low collection rates and promoting waste segregation at the source.
  2. Urban Transport and Traffic Control -Exploring evidence-based strategies to tackle congestion.
  3. Food Safety – Combating contamination through joint research and regulation.
  4. Support for Vulnerable Communities – Designing inclusive strategies for street children and at-risk populations.
  5. Age-Friendly Urban Design – Enhancing infrastructure for older persons through better walkways and cycling lanes.

Next Steps:

• A formal Partnership Agreement will be signed to facilitate collaboration and quick wins.
• A joint dissemination strategy will be developed to share relevant Mak-RIF outputs with KCCA stakeholders.
• Priority will be given to piloting high-potential projects within KCCA systems to test feasibility and impact.

This engagement underscores Mak-RIF’s commitment to translating research into scalable solutions that respond to Kampala’s dynamic urban challenges.