The role of roads in rural and regional development in E. Africa : Case studies in Kenya and Uganda

Abstract

This study has been undertaken as a result of the recognition of the significance of the relationship between roads and rural and regional development.Regional development disparities exist in East African and the study set out to examine the role of roads in fostering rural and regional developments as to remove this disparity. The thesis has proceeded by first examining the historical evolution of the East African spatial system. This has shown that there is an imbalance in regional development and that there is a case correlation between the trunk road system and the economically better developed regions. It has also been found that the government policies have continued to emphasize the provision of trunk roads as opposed to the lower level feeder roads.

A much closer examination of this problem has further been undertaken in two other case study areas along one of the main international trunk roads while in the first part of the proposed Trans-African high way. In the first case study where the road existed for a longer period it was found that the road has not only stimulated ribbon development along et but also acted as an accelerating factor of rural to urban migrations…….