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Analysing inclusivity within small town development in Uganda and Tanzania : an inclusivity index and experiential insights

Mackay, Heather LU orcid ; Strömgren, Magnus ; Mukwaya, Paul Isolo ; Mugagga, Frank LU ; Hambati, Herbert and Andersson, Agnes LU (2025) In International Development Planning Review 47(3). p.309-350
Abstract

Framed within debates about the inclusivity of urban development, Ubuntu philosophy and an interest in non-metropolitan growth of ordinary places, 15 small but developing towns were selected across Uganda and Tanzania. Growth and development were evidenced by increase in night-time lights and densification/expansion of built-up areas. Analysis of c. 4,000 individuals asked which towns were more, or less, inclusive and why. An inclusivity index considered infrastructural, social, economic and political inclusion. Data from focus groups with diverse residents add important interpretive insights. More inclusive towns were those better organised and experiencing hierarchy promotion and external investments (Babati in Tanzania; Masindi in... (More)

Framed within debates about the inclusivity of urban development, Ubuntu philosophy and an interest in non-metropolitan growth of ordinary places, 15 small but developing towns were selected across Uganda and Tanzania. Growth and development were evidenced by increase in night-time lights and densification/expansion of built-up areas. Analysis of c. 4,000 individuals asked which towns were more, or less, inclusive and why. An inclusivity index considered infrastructural, social, economic and political inclusion. Data from focus groups with diverse residents add important interpretive insights. More inclusive towns were those better organised and experiencing hierarchy promotion and external investments (Babati in Tanzania; Masindi in Uganda). The least inclusive towns (Chalinze in Tanzania; Luweero in Uganda) had either low political inclusion scores, denoting a local discontent with government, and/or economic structures influenced by trucking, sex work and smuggling. The work suggests why some towns’ growth benefits are better distributed across their citizenry than others.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
inclusivity index, remote sensing, small town Africa, urban development, vulnerable resident experiences
in
International Development Planning Review
volume
47
issue
3
pages
42 pages
publisher
Liverpool University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:105007327780
ISSN
1474-6743
DOI
10.3828/idpr.2025.5
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Liverpool University Press. All rights reserved.
id
1dec24b4-5f1d-49ed-a084-2da3b1b1b76a
date added to LUP
2025-06-17 14:31:15
date last changed
2025-06-23 09:21:53
@article{1dec24b4-5f1d-49ed-a084-2da3b1b1b76a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Framed within debates about the inclusivity of urban development, Ubuntu philosophy and an interest in non-metropolitan growth of ordinary places, 15 small but developing towns were selected across Uganda and Tanzania. Growth and development were evidenced by increase in night-time lights and densification/expansion of built-up areas. Analysis of c. 4,000 individuals asked which towns were more, or less, inclusive and why. An inclusivity index considered infrastructural, social, economic and political inclusion. Data from focus groups with diverse residents add important interpretive insights. More inclusive towns were those better organised and experiencing hierarchy promotion and external investments (Babati in Tanzania; Masindi in Uganda). The least inclusive towns (Chalinze in Tanzania; Luweero in Uganda) had either low political inclusion scores, denoting a local discontent with government, and/or economic structures influenced by trucking, sex work and smuggling. The work suggests why some towns’ growth benefits are better distributed across their citizenry than others.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mackay, Heather and Strömgren, Magnus and Mukwaya, Paul Isolo and Mugagga, Frank and Hambati, Herbert and Andersson, Agnes}},
  issn         = {{1474-6743}},
  keywords     = {{inclusivity index; remote sensing; small town Africa; urban development; vulnerable resident experiences}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{309--350}},
  publisher    = {{Liverpool University Press}},
  series       = {{International Development Planning Review}},
  title        = {{Analysing inclusivity within small town development in Uganda and Tanzania : an inclusivity index and experiential insights}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2025.5}},
  doi          = {{10.3828/idpr.2025.5}},
  volume       = {{47}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}