By Mugabi John
The World Bank’s involvement in the Kitooro Taxi Park market redevelopment project has been criticized for its negative impacts on traders and local communities. This outline explores the reasons why the World Bank got it wrong.
Failure to Understand Local Context:
Informal Nature of Trading:
The World Bank failed to recognize and accommodate the informal nature of trading activities at Kitooro Taxi Park Market. The World chose to use politicians and technocrats at Municipal council to enforce its own modernity over traders.This is very evident in 85% of the stalls being empty due to various reasons like side,poorly positioned and high rent in the name of modernization.
Inadequate Consultation and Participation:
Lack of Meaningful Engagement The World Bank and local authorities failed to engage in meaningful consultations with traders,chamber of commerce,technocrats,political body, and other stakeholders.
Ignoring Local Knowledge and Expertise:
The project disregarded local knowledge and expertise, leading to the imposition of external solutions that were not tailored to the local context.
Ignoring Power Dynamics at Play in Municipality. The project failed to account for power dynamics between traders, political body,technocrats and other stakeholders like like Ruling party or military personnel, leading to the worst unintended consequences.
Focusing on economic on income generating project for municipal council not eradicating poverty.The technocrats and politicians at center council still defend their share of stalls because of wrong assumption on economic growth.
Disregarding Vulnerable Groups.The project did not adequately consider the needs and vulnerabilities of marginalized groups, including women, youth, and people with disabilities.Today 49% of the women are still crying for not getting allocated any stall or stalls.
Conclusion:
The World Bank’s Kitooro Taxi Park market redevelopment project failed to deliver its intended benefits due to a combination of factors, including a lack of understanding of the local context, inadequate consultation and participation, unrealistic expectations, and insufficient attention to poverty.
John Mugabi Socrates is a fellow at Initiative for Initiative for Africa Trade and Prosperity. He is also the founder executive Director at Action for Liberty and Economic Development. President of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and industry-Entebbe.
Email: [email protected]
