Ugandan Slums

The summer of 2014 I spent three months living and working in Kampala, Uganda. During this time, I visited some of the most beautiful places I have ever been and also some of the most unsightly. Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa, because of its lush green landscape and natural beauty. It is also the youngest country in the world, with the average age at just 14 years old. It is a country of children raising more children.  54% of the urban population live in the cities slums. I spent a little time there, and I was surprised at what I learned about the spaces and the people there. 

The thing I remember most about the slums was the mud. The lack of drainage and stormwater management meant that every time it rained, the slums turned to mud immediately. The second thing I remember is the feeling of shared community. Everyone knew everyone, and they all had each others backs. And more than that, the people I met were extremely welcoming. Despite their lack of resources, they were willing to share what they had even with an outsider. A few people I worked with and I were invited to dinner. We ate a meal comprised of every type of potato I never knew existed and fried bread. We ate in a large circle sitting on the living room/bedroom/kitchen floor. It was cramped, but we made room. 

I did not walk away from that experience feeling like architecture could solve all of these peoples problems. It is a complicated situation. What I did take away from this was that when I design, I want to create spaces where people have the opportunity to form communities that rely on each other in the same way. I want to remember the advantages of local materials and simple construction processes. And I want to help where I can. And hopefully as architects we can begin to improve, if not solve, the issues in the slums.