Urbanization and Informal Settlements in African Cities: A Mixed Methods Inquiry into Social Welfare Provision in Uganda

Urbanization in African cities has led to rapid growth of informal settlements, challenging traditional social welfare provision mechanisms. This study employs mixed methods, integrating qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys to explore perceptions of social welfare among residents and analyse service delivery metrics. Quantitative data revealed that only 35% of respondents reported receiving basic services like healthcare and education from local authorities, highlighting significant disparities in coverage. While current programmes show some efficacy, their reach is uneven, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable service delivery across informal settlements. Policy makers should prioritise community engagement to tailor welfare schemes more effectively and expand outreach efforts to cover all residents of informal settlements. Urbanization, Informal Settlements, Social Welfare, Uganda, Mixed Methods