Urban population growth and access to social services: residents’ perceptions in Kira Municipality, Wakiso district
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Date
2026-04-15
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
This study examined residents' perceptions of urban population growth on access to social, economic, and infrastructural services in Kira Municipality, Uganda. Guided by Urban Growth Theory, the study employed a qualitative phenomenological design with 23 participants selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data was collected through using individual semi-structured interviews lasting 5-15 minutes, audio recordings in English and analyzed thematically. Findings revealed severe overcrowding in healthcare and education, a two-tier system where quality correlates with ability to pay, and a “middle income trap” excluding those too wealthy for free services but too poor for private care. Economic benefits of growth were unevenly distributed while infrastructure failures like poor roads, unreliable water, and electricity outages had life threatening consequences like patient deaths from ambulance delays. The majority of participants perceived service access had worsened though business owners reported improved livelihoods. The study concludes that population growth has outpaced service provision, creating a crisis of access requiring urgent policy intervention. Keywords: Urban population growth, social services, residents' perceptions, Kira Municipality, Uganda, urbanization, service accessibility, infrastructure.
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Undergraduate