Political setting

Jinja is located at 1,143 m above sea level and 87 km east of the capital, Kampala (Jinja City). Jinja Town is the municipal and commercial centre of Jinja District. The climate is warm and humid due to the location on the shores of Lake Victoria, near to the source of the Nile River (Jinja City).

urbAN structure

The town layout can be attributed to a variety of European, Indian and African influences. The city center reflects a mixed influence of Western and indian architecture and consists largely of low density commercial buildings laid out in a grid. indian areas of the CBD were poorly maintained after Indians were expelled, but in recent years are being replaced with new businesses by the returning indians. Most businesses are small, one-story shops, complemented by a large, sprawling market at the north end of Main Street. Because of the low density city plan, streets are wide and there are many open spaces around the buildings. (Vanderhoek, Carne and Benham)

The grid overflows into a more organic shape as the city moves towards the Lake and Nile River in the west. The western part of Jinja is predominantly low density residential with a formal planning scheme inspired by European town planning. Residents are mixed between illegally squatters and wealthy residents. Approximately 1000 of these properties are still unclaimed and are under hold of DAPCB (JMC, 2009). The market area to the North of the city center is highly influenced by locals who informally create organic forms that contrast to the strict grid structure of the rest of the city. An industrial area is situated to the east of the railway line and main road. The main industries are metal processing, leather tanning and paper making and coffee processing. There are large, dense residential areas surrounding industries, home to low income factory workers and fishermen. The issue of housing is eminent in Jinja and there are many large, low-income settlements on the outskirts of the city with poor access to services. The government constructed several public housing estates to alleviate housing shortage for industrial workers in the 1950s including Loco, Walukuba and Mpmudde Housing Estates. Originally intended to temporarily accommodate factory workers, they now house a high density of low income earners and their families. (Vanderhoek, Carne and Benham)

trANsportAtIoN

The main forms for transportation inside Jinja are bicycles and boda bodas (motorbike taxis). Between Jinja and other cities, it is most common to use matatus (a minibus that carries up to 14 people made from rebuilt Hiaces) or small busses. The matutu park next to the current market acts as a transport node to the main highway and railway, facilitating transport of goods and people in and out of Jinja. (Vanderhoek, Carne and Benham)

lANd use

51 percent of land in Jinja is used agriculture or undeveloped (Kakaire). Fertile soil and plentiful rainfall contributes to successful agricultural activities in surrounding areas (Njeru, 2007). A portion of this undeveloped land is abandoned industries that have the potential to be revitalized and renovated into new industries (Kakaire). Developed land is divided between residences, industries and business, and public, government owned land (Kakaire). JMC owns about 30 percent of the land in Jinja, Uganda Land Commission 10 percent, institutions seven percent, leased public land four percent and private individuals 49 percent (Manyire, 2002).