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Physical Planning & Housing

Physical Planning & Housing

Physical planning, in its broadest sense, is about shaping the physical, social, and economic wellbeing of a place and the people who call it home. In Fort Portal City, this work is led by the City Physical Planner.

Head of Department

Wandera Peter
City Physical Planner

Our Mandate

  • Promoting orderly, sustainable urban development across Fort Portal City
  • Planning and designing the City’s physical infrastructure, including rezoning, land subdivision, and identifying areas for development
  • Marking out space for essential social infrastructure such as schools, health centres, and public open areas

Our Vision
To build orderly, progressive, and sustainable urban and rural development that lays the groundwork for industrialization, strong social and physical infrastructure, modernized agriculture, and lasting poverty reduction.

Our Mission
To guide how land is used across the City by following a clear policy framework, offering technical direction, and closely monitoring and supervising how plans are formed and carried out.

Our Strategic Direction
Fort Portal recognizes that rapid, unplanned growth brings real risks, weak physical planning, a disconnected transport network, environmental strain, the rise of slums and informal settlements, urban poverty fueled by unemployment, overstretched markets, water, housing and health infrastructure, and mounting pressure from crime, overcrowding, and pollution. To stay ahead of these challenges, the City has begun developing a comprehensive physical plan covering all newly annexed areas.

The City Physical Planning Committee

Under Section 12 of the Physical Planning (Amendment) Act, 2020, every urban authority or city is required to establish its own Physical Planning Committee. Fort Portal’s committee is made up of:

  • The City Clerk (Chairperson)
  • The Urban Physical Planner (Secretary)
  • The City Land Surveyor
  • The City Engineer
  • The City Environment Officer
  • An Architect
  • The officer responsible for public health

What the Committee Does

  • Prepares urban and local physical development plans, along with detailed area plans
  • Recommends land-use change applications to the Board
  • Advises Council on land subdivisions that could significantly affect neighboring land or breach registered title conditions
  • Reviews and decides on development applications for industrial sites, dumping grounds, or sewerage treatment facilities that could impact the environment or nearby safeguarded areas
  • Hears and rules on appeals against decisions made by the Urban Physical Planner or a subordinate urban authority

Our Core Roles

  • Marking out areas for social infrastructure, schools, health centres, public open spaces, and similar community needs
  • Planning and designing the City’s physical infrastructure, including rezoning, land subdivision, and identifying development areas

Services We Offer

  • Hearing and deciding appeals against Physical Planner or subordinate authority decisions
  • Reviewing development applications related to industrial siting

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