AMBO TOWN PROFILE

ORGANISED BY THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.

1. INTRODUCTION

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1.1 Vision and Mission Ambo Town
Vision
To see Ambo town be a centre of commerce and tourism where its‟ in habitants enjoy
security and wealth.
Mission
I. A competitive commercial town in the region
The purpose of this mission is to enable Ambo town win the regional competition among towns so as
to benefit from the competing in a sustainable manner. The benefit could be in terms of the
maximization of household income and municipal revenues.
II. A town of recreation and tourism
Due to its strategic and proximity location to the national capital as well as the existence of historical
and natural tourist attraction elements in the region Ambo town has a great potential for the
recreational town in the region. The revision work is targeted at exploiting these potential so that
Ambo town could be get regional and local importance. It also sought that Ambo town could have an
excellent image, and could become exemplary to the towns around it, in West Shewa and others as
well.
III. A Green and beautiful town
Improving the natural environmental condition of the town is of paramount importance. This could be
achieved through formal and informal green development. These refers to for example plots, roads
sides and median, industries, schools, hospitals, etc, on one hand and on the other to hills, rivers,
gullies and the like. Beauty could also be achieved through the quality of the built and natural
environment. The beauty of Ambo town helps to attract investment and tourism as well as serves as
means in the promotion of city marketing.
IV. A centre for integrated and complementary development for nearby rural
growth centre in the hinterland
As the government policy indicated the urban centers expected to play their role in the provision of
different services to their hinterland or surrounding rural areas to complement the development of
agricultural economy. In this regard Ambo town shall be play a central and unifying role for nearby
peasant association and towns in the hinterland.
V. A safe town and town of law and order
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This is to mean that safety and order should be ensured in working and living areas; while travelling,
touring and relaxing. Planning and design should be also taken into account the minimization of risks
due to seismic hazards.
VI. A town of balanced development
It means that Ambo town shall be demonstrating a balanced development between:
 Expansion and containment,
 Sporadic and continuous development (infrastructure and space),
 Built-up and green,
 Sparse and compact,
 Low rise and high rise building structure,
 Exploitation and preservation /conservation.
Assumptions
☻ The town will exposed to high population growth especially due to the reviving
hinterland agricultural productivity which will cause for in migration,
☻ Ongoing urban development and good urban governance packages will continue,
☻ There will be more private investors, which attracted by better environment for
investment that created due to urban development and good governance strategies
and packages,
☻ There will be increased government support.
Problems Identified during field survey and from public forum
 Road network problem,
 Incompatibility,
 Urban deterioration and poor urban quality,
 Lack of services for center,
 Lack of market hierarchy,
 Inefficient and uncoordinated utilization of potential site and resources,
 Inadequacy of pedestrian walkways,
 Inefficient traffic management,
 Sanitation emergency associated with lack of waste collection system and disposal
site for both solid and liquid waste,
 Growing pollution and land erosion,

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  No cattle market,
 Illegal settlement,
 Unplanned fencing and‟ kiosks‟ on streets,
 Unplanned quarrying and deforestation,
 Lack of focus to urban redevelopment renewal and up grading in the built up areas,
especially original settlements and inner city.

1.2 Brief History of Ambo Town

1.2.1 Background
Looking at the natural resources and ethnographic character of the area may be the logical place to
start writing about the history of its urbanization. In this connection Ambo area is known for its
different natural resources including the abundant resources and attractive scenery. Its perennial
rivers including Hulluqa (which is originated in Dandi district at a place called Danbal), Taltalle,
Bojji, Burqa-Xiqqo (Chopho) etc are of crucial importance.

Above all, the Ambo mineral water (Hora Ambo) is one of the important natural resources, which
have direct relation with urbanization of the area. According to Oromo tradition of the area the Hora
is also known as Hora Ayyeetuu. It also took the name Xabala Ayeetuu or Xabala Ambo; after the
establishment of Ambo Yesus Church in 1894 (1888 E.C). The Hora (mineral water) was/is
important for both its curative value and its cultural expression. As a curing resource, it was/is known
to bring about recovery from different diseases for both human beings and livestocks. The Hora is
also of a ritual and cultural significance. The traditions tell us that the Oromo owe much respect for
the Hora. Such important blessings as about love, happiness, peace, richness etc were experessed here
around the Hora (“…Horri Kan Horii haa ta'u, Horiin Kan abba Horee haa ta'u” the Hora must be for
the livestock the livestock must be for its rightful owner) is what is declared at the Hora. According
to tradition, it is believed that the Hora was at the beginning discovered by cattle that got it tasty and
salty. This was significant in the life of the then predominantly pastural Oromo of the area (interview,
1, 3, 4).

The Matcha Oromo calls the hinterland of Ambo town as "Amba Lafa." Amba Lafa, according to this
tradition is the share of Kuttaye when Liban Matcha distributed land to his three children i.e. Amaya
(the senior), Waliso (the second and Kuttaye (the junior or Quxisu)). The tradition further says that
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among the seven children of Kuttaye (i.e. Itu, Hidhabu, Maliyu, Macca, Burra, Dada, and Abebe, the
last two predominantly inhabit Ambo) the locality of present day Ambo town (interviewee 1, 5).

Before the incorporation of the area into the Shoan Kingdom of Menelik, the Oromo of the area was
under the egalitarian Gada system. Therefore, there are a number of Gada sites in the area. These
include Qilxu Homa one of the areas where the Oromo conducted conflict resolutions Finca'a Obse is
another important Gada site where Butta ceremony was conducted. At Odaa Bokku Cittu, the Oromo
enacted law concerning homicide called „Guma’ and conducted the general assembly of Torban
Kuttaye i.e. the seven children of Kuttaye. Bokku Xule, Wacan (site of Qalu Ambo currently called
Masqala Wacan) is also important Gada sites (Asefa, 1991; Interview 1, 5).
The area came under the Showan kingdom of Menelik after series of campaign waged between 1866
and 1888 (1859-1872 E.C). An Oromo general of Menelik, Gobana Dacci, subdued it. Land in the
area was a common property of the society except where some abba Dulas (war lords) began to
establish private property. After incorporation the area was designated as Jibat and Mecha and the
land tenure of the area was completely changed. Land under the abba Gadas was also rearranged. A
number of series of governors (i.e. Dejazmachk Garedew, Amene-Showa, Fitwarari Tekle Mariam,
Dejazmach Habte Georgis, Dejazmach Girmame, Dejazmach Habte-Mariam) governed the area until
Fitawrari Habte Georgis (Quse alias Yadasa) Dinged was assigned governor of the area in 1897
(Asefa, 1974, Bahiru, 1991).

1.2.2 Pre-conditions for Formation of Ambo Town

The political and socio-economic changes after incorporation have much to do with urbanization of
Abmo. Land tenure transformation of the area was highly intensified under Fitawrari Habte Georgis.
Extensive land of the area was allocated to the Hudad of the Fitawrari. The Hudad was cultivated by
the gabbar peasants and the product was sent to the capital (Finfinne) to feed the huge army of
Habte-Georgis and the rest for his lavish life in the capital. Part of the area's land was also allocated
as Semon (Church land) as Habte-Georgis established a number of churches in the area. Gatira
Tewodrose at Abebe and Ambo Yesus are among the churches established by Habte Georgis.
According to our informants, this Yesus church had been originally established by Dejazmach
Garedew Wolde at Tullu Diimtu and stayed there until it was brought to Ambo by Fitawrari Habte
Georgis in 1894 (Asefa, 1974; Crummy, 2000).

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Another socio-Economic characteristic feature of Habte-Georgis' Administration was the promotion
of trade. According to our informants there had been commercial activities around Ambo even before
conquest and there was a market at Dabbasi, Doobbi before the coming of Gobana. Trade and
commercial activities grew particularly under Habte-Georgis as he was interested in income from the
taxes. In this way the existing market places were promoted and new ones emerged. The market at
Bodda called Segno Gebeya, Jafaro market in Gudar and Ambo market were some of the important
average sized markets with major taxable commodities as butter, honey, grain, species, cattle, clothe
etc. According to our sources it was the market at Dabbasi which was transferred to Oddo Liban by
one of the balabats of the area named Wayyessa Manqar, who was supported by Ras Gobana in his
rivalry against another balabat of the area, Dabal Jibiti, After it was transferred to Oddo Liban it was
named as Qidame Gebeya (interview 1, 5).

1.2.3 Name of the Town

According to our both oral and written sources, the town was given by the imperial rule, two different
names at different periods other than Ambo. These were Dingat Alem (1928-1936) and Hagre Hiwot
(1948-1974). According to our informants, the name Dingat Alam was given by Ras Tafari himself,
as he himself, at some time was ill and cured using the Hora. Another version of the story says that,
Balambaras Mahiteme Sellassie, the first administer of the town called it as such because of the
sudden emergence (Amharic Dingat) of the town. But this name was dropped with the Italian
invasions. According to our informants the name Hagere-Hiwot was awarded by Emperor Haile
Sellassie when his spouse, empress Menen revived from her sickness at one time ( ). Despite the
Imperial attempt to change the name of the town, the popular name of town remained Ambo. The
name Hagere – Hiwot was only official, not an accepted name among the people, until the town
regained its original name officially, by the 1974 Revolution (interviewee 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

As to the origin and meaning of the name Ambo, there is no difference on the fact that it is Afan
Oromo term. However, there are divergent views on the origin and meaning of the name Ambo.
According to one oral tradition it was derived from the name of the Qallu who had lived around the
Hora. According to this tradition this qallu was from Galan clan of Kuttaye and he had been
responsible for the Hora ritual ceremony at the time (interview 1, 2, 3).

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The second oral tradition about the name Ambo is related to what is called Amba Lafa. According to
this tradition the area took the name Amba as part of traditional Amba Lafa, which is considered the
share of Kuttaye, and Amba is gradually shifted to Ambo (interview, 3, 4, 5). The third oral tradition
says that it is the name of the Hora itself. According to this tradition Ambo and Hora are
synonymous, and the name is derived from the Hora (interviewee 3, 4, 5). Although these three views
seem to be different, a close examination of oral Oromo tradition in general and the views presented
in particular reveals that they are complimentary to one another.

If we look at the tradition closely the Qallu, Amba-Lafa, and Hora are all related to Gada. Qallu is
part and parcel of Gada, Kuttaye gained his share Amba-Lafa based on the Gada or Oromo tradition
of managing once offspring rights. Hora is managed according to Oromo tradition (duudhaa).
Therefore, the three views together give full meaning to the name Ambo (BATO, 2006, 2007;
interviewee 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

1.2.4 Foundations and Growth of the Town

As stated in the previous sections the area is endowed with suitable climate conducive for agriculture.
The various ritual and cultural sites were also used as pull-factors attracting people to the area. The
Natural Bridge (Riqicha Waaqaa) was important as merchants who had crossed it in their long
journey to the west and southwest. Because of the Hora for which people frequented the area to get
rid of their disease and treat their cattle was also important. All these can be considered as factors for
the foundation of the town (interview 1, 2, 5).

According to our informants and the municipal sources the beginning of urban settlement in Ambo
was in 1887/8 (1881 E.C) though we do not have any crucial event mentioned as a turning point to
mention this year as a starting point. Nevertheless, these sources indicate that as some of the people,
who frequent the area as the result of the Hora, began to permanently settle, this settlement began to
increase from time to time because people continuously migrated to the area, which led to the
formation of sizeable village settlement at early 1880s. As trade activities developed people from the
surrounding rural areas began to provide those who were at the village with what they required and
they also frequented the Abmo market to purchase such valuable good as salt, clothe and coffee
(interview 1, 2, 3, 4). In addition to agricultural products, according to our informants, there was also
slave trade at Ambo market particularly at the early stage of the urban settlement development. Some

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people, especially women, began to establish small local drink houses for people who frequent the
area (interview 1, 5).
The establishment of Ambo Yesus church, in 1894 was also another factor that increased the value of
Ambo village settlement. According to our informants, it was beginning from that event that Hora
Ambo began to be called as Ambo Xabal (interviewee 2, 3).
An importantly event that have had contributed to the progress of Ambo urban settlement was the
imperial visit of Ras Teferi Mekonen (later Emperor Haile Sellasie I) in 1928 (1923 E.C). On that
occasion, he was impressed by the fertility of the area, the climate and the mineral water. He then
took important measures that enhanced the urban development. These include the establishment of
the Agricultural school and the assignment of town Administrator. Following that event, Balambaras
Mahiteme Sellassie Wolde Mesqal was assigned as an administer and planner of the town. As the
demand for land increased free land distribution was conducted especially for the royal family
members from Finfinne. As the village developed into town from it faced short of money. Therefore,
it began to tax those who used the Hora. A certain Haile Habte Gebriel who was nick named as
"Haile Hora," was assigned to conduct the tax collection (interviewee 1, 2, 3).
In this way, Ambo village have already took a form of urban character before the Italian invasion in
1935. However, only very few developments that could demonstrate urban character were established
before the Italian invasion. This includes the agricultural school (1928) and the pioneering school that
began in the agricultural school campus (1930). The Italian occupation (1936-41) has had significant
impact on Ambo town (interview 1, 3, 5).
The Italians had introduced a number of innovations contributing to urban development in Ambo as
they did in all over the country. Some enduring features of urban landscape of Ambo under the
Italians include the construction of the main road to Wolega, the bridge on Hulluqa River, the
construction of number of buildings in their camp (the Residensa), the present day Hospital, and
some other buildings, which are at present-day, used as Hotels. The Italians also introduced
Telecommunication, postal and Electricity services to some parts of the town. They promoted
commerce by encouraging weekly market and establishment of small shops and drinking houses
(interview 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5).

After the expulsion of the Italian in 1941, the under restored rule of Hiale Sellasie, Ambo was
identified as seat of Jibat and matcha District (Awraja). This rule of the town continued both under
the imperial rule and the Derg (1974-91), but sometimes between 1988 and 1991 its status was
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reduced to be seat of Ambo district. After the fall of the Derg in 1991 it became the seat of West
Showa Zone. Currently it is the seat of West Showa Zone since 2005. The town got its first master
plan in 1972 (1965 E.C). The current Master plan was introduced in 1996/7 (1989 E.C.) (Municipal
archive).
A number of services and institutions have been evolved since 1941. The pioneer school, which had
been found in 1928, was interrupted by the Italian invasion. After liberation, it resumed work in
building where the present Balambaras Mahiteme Sellassie Hotel exists. It was taken back to the
Agriculture school campus until separate school campus was constructed in 1950 (1943 E.C). That is
the present Ambo Ethiopia Hotel. In 1956 (1948 E.C) the campus became a hotel to serve the
increasing number of guests coming from the capital. Schooling was also conducted in a rented house
until building was built and began work taking the name Mahirege Hiwot School in 1956 and was
upgraded to secondary school in 1957. Currently the school provide secondary education, preparatory
and technical and vocational training.
There are also educational institutions established during the imperial period and the Derg.
Significant education been establishments took place since 1991. The pioneer Agriculture school was
promoted to college level in 1948 it improved its status until it was developed to university college in
2007. The Plant Protection Research Center (1971), the expansion various kindergartens and primary
school are all of significant impacts on the development of the town.
The town has expanded to different directions since its establishment around the Hora. In that
expansion, a number of neighborhoods have been formed. Some of these neighborhoods maintained
their name and some changed over time. Some of the neighborhood holds their original Oromo
names, some Amharic names and some Italian names. This includes Arada, Residensa, Oddo Liban,
Bustta-Bullukko, Yugoslavia, Safara Abba Amde, Safara Abba Zalas, Qulqual Amba, Qes-Amba,
Insilale, etc. (Municipal Achieves).

1.2.5 Cultural Heritages and Tourist Attraction Areas

There are a number of cultural heritages and Tourist Attraction sites in Ambo. If maintained and
promoted, they are very helpful to develop Ambo into one of the Tourist towns in Oromia and the
country at large. These include the Ambo Mineral water (Hora) and the old Ambo mineral water
Factory, the Natural Bridge (Riqicha Waaqaa), Fincha'a Obse, Bokku Cittu, Masqala Waacan
(former Qallu Ambo Site), Ambo Ethiopia Hotel, Gudar Fall, Tullu Mi'essa etc.

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Teltele Valley Park-Teltele is a fascinating place, some 2 km away from Ambo town. There are
three waterfalls. The different flora and fauna of the surrounding area are interest- ing including
colobus monkeys.
Guder River and Falls- Guder town is 12 km away from Ambo. Ambo Mineral Water Fac- tory,
Ambo Limestone Factory, Guder Park Hotel at Gudar city and Guder falls are worth seeing.
Huluka River is one of the crater rivers which runs in the centre of the city. It is also the source of
drinking water for people of Ambo city and surrounding villages and also a source for irrigation.
Many hot springs are present around the river. This is one of the tributaries of the famous Nile river.

Wonchi Lake is a naturally gifted crater lake on a mountain which is 3386 m high. It is indeed
astounding. Wonchi Crater Lake is located at 27 km south of Ambo. Before you reach this lake, the
panorama to the right and left side of the gravel road is breathtaking. But, when you arrive at the
Crater Lake you would be totally overtaken by the beauty of the surrounding land- scape and
freshness of the air. Wonchi Lake is 560 hectares wide. The lake's depth ranges from 9 to 67.8 m. It is
partially surrounded by forests. On the mountain, you can find monkeys, apes and gazelles. The other
attractions around the lake are the natural hot springs. Southwest of the lake, one can find several
lukewarm springs. These hot springs are frequented by many people, as they are believed to have
healing powers. There are two islands in the lake. In one of the islands there is an ancient church
called Cherkos monastery. You can navigate to the monasteries on ferries. You can hire horses to go
down the mountain to the lake.

Fig. 2.1: The Administrative map of Ambo town

2. Physical Characteristics of Ambo Town

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2.1 Administrative Status
Ambo town is a zonal town with the 2nd grade (stage) of administrative status. The distance of Ambo
town from the regional capital Finfinne (Finfinne) is approximately 114 kms from the centre of the
town. As we have got information from the municipality, the town has three urban gendas(Ganda)
such as genda 01, genda 02 and keble 03.In addition to these three urban gendas, now the town is
expanded outwardly and included certain farmers genda(Ganda Qotee bulaa) associations such as
Awwaaroo & Illaammuu Muujjaa in the eastern direction, Sanqallee Farisiiii in Western, Goosuu
Qooraa in the southern and Oddoo Liiban Kisoosee in the northern direction.

Fig. 2.1: The Administrative map of Ambo town

2.2 Location of the town

The geographical (Astronomical) location of Ambo town is approximately between 8 o 56'30‟‟ N - 8o
59'30‟‟ N latitude and between 37o47'30" E - 37o 55'15" E longitude (topographic map sheet obtained
from Ethiopian Mapping Agency and topographic surveyed map). Relatively Ambo town is located
114 kms far away West of Finfinne, 60kms North West of Weliso town and 12kms East of Guder
town.

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Fig. 2.2: Location map-Absolute Location

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 Fig. 2.3: Relative location Map

2.3: Area and Shape

The area under administration of the town including the adjacent proposed expansion areas is
reckoned to be about 8587.58710715 ha (85875871.0715m2). To analyze the shape of the town it is
important to consider the compactness index model here. If the shape of the town approaches a circle
(a perfectly compact shape), it is possible to give different types of services from the central location
of that specific town. But if the shape of the town is linear, it is difficult to give different types of
services from the central location. Thus, it is important to establish different types of services and
growth centers in different parts of the town. This increases the cost of delivering such services and
establishing such growth centre.

The compactness index of Ambo town is calculated by dividing the actual area of the town for a
circle circumscribing the town. Thus, the area of a circle circumscribing Ambo town is
215256400.01m2 but the actual area of Ambo is 85875871.0715 m2. Refer to the map below.

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 Fig. 2.4: Shape of the town

Index of compactness = 85875871.0715 m2

215256400.01m2
=39.89%=40%

The value of compactness index indicates that the shape of Ambo town deviates from a perfectly
compact shape (a circle) by 60%. This means it is difficult to provide different services from a
central location of the town. Therefore, we recommend that it is necessary to establish different
services and growth centers in the southern and northern parts of the town. To increase the value
of compactness index, the future expansion site of the town should be towards south direction
where gentle slope prevails. On the other hand the Northern parts of the town have steeper slopes
and hence the town should not expand towards this direction in the future.

2.4 Topography and Drainage

As town is located on the Shewa plateau land, most of the existing built up areas of the town is
almost gentle slope & undulated while some hill slope and mountain are also seen in the town. Along

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the course of the rivers and streams steep slope & gullies are also observed. Concerning the altitude
of the town, the town's altitude ranges from 1872 meter above sea level (masl) to 2362 masl (as
obtained from the base map prepared and 1: 50, 000 Scale map of Ethiopian Mapping Authority). As
regard to the proposed expansion most of the proposed Expansion areas are characterized by flat,
gentle slopes and undulated plains towards Awwaaroo & Illaammuu Muujjaa in the eastern direction,
Oddoo Liiban Kisoosee in the Northern and Goosuu Qooraa in the southern. But some of the slopes
in the Sanqallee Farisii in Western direction have higher slopes and also has manmade barriers such
as Ambo Mineral Water Factory, Sanqallee Police Training Centre and Sanqallee Gypsum Factory.
2.4.1 Slope of the land surface
From the slope map below the land surface terrain of the majority part of the surface of the town has
slope gradient less than 20 percent. The slope classification of Ambo is largely dominated by terrain
with flat to undulating and steep slopes. Eight slope classifications are considered here to identify
areas, which are appropriate and which are difficult for built up environments. From different urban
experience under normal conditions, urban areas with slopes greater than 20% are not recommended
for construction activities. However, this situation doesn‟t be taken as a rule in the case of Ambo
town. In the case of Ambo town to have a wide area for construction purpose slope up to 35% can be
taken as a maximum limit of elevation.

Slope with less than 2% is highly dominated in eastern & northeastern parts of the town. These are
areas, which are prone to flood inundation and are not recommended for construction purposes. But
slopes with 15%-60% are dominantly found in the northern, western and northwestern parts of the
town. Slopes with 20%- 60% cover small area in the town where as slopes beyond 2% up to 20%
cover the majority areas of the town.

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Fig. 2.5: Map of the Slope of the land surface

2.4.2 Drainage
The town is drained by Perennial and seasonal rivers and streams. The town is found within the
Abay drainage basin, and it is particularly drained by major rivers Hulluuqaa, Debis & Taltallee,
minor seasonal rivers Aleltu, Awwaaroo, Boojji, Doobbi, Kerise, Caffee Jaarra, Jaliinaa, Majaa,
soolbee, Jabduu and Sanqallee; A number of intermittent or seasonal streams are found within the
catchment area .The rivers and streams drain to the major Hulluuqaa river in the surrounding area of
Ambo and Hulluuqaa river drains Westward to Guder river and finally Guder river drains to Abay
river and the drainage system is therefore under the Mediterranean drainage system. The discharges
of the streams are relatively small or no during dry seasons, where as the volume of these rivers /
streams drastically increases during summer season (June - October) and inundates the low gradient
areas close to their banks. Therefore, it is recommended that adequate buffer zone should be reserved
along the riverbanks.

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2.5 Climate
According to the data obtained from National Meteorological Agency of Ambo branch which is
located in Ambo University 10 years consecutive meteorological data was taken and the following
result is observed on the temperature, rainfall, humidity and wind direction.

Temperature: - The mean annual temperature, the mean annual maximum and mean annual
minimum temperatures of the town are reckoned to be about 18.87oC, 23.76 oC & 10.67oC,
respectively, which is the characteristics of a warm temperate climate Which is locally called Weina
Dega (Badda Daree)(See Table 2.1).

Rainfall: The mean annual rainfall is about 987.78mm. The highest rainfall concentration occurs
from June to September. Thus Low infiltration of rain Water, storm water occurrence, and inundation
of Low gradient areas and incidence of sheet and gully erosion are some of the problems in the town
& surrounding areas

Humidity: The mean monthly relative humidity of the town varies from 64.6% in August to 35.8%
in December, which is very comfortable for human life.

Wind direction: From the meteorological data obtained the prevailing winds of Autumn (Locally
Meher Birra), Winter (Locally Bega, Bona) and Spring (Locally Belg, Arfasaa) seasons are Easterly
and South Easterly Winds while that of Summer (Locally Kremt, Ganna) season is Westerly and
South Westerly Winds. Generally the most dominant prevailing wind of Ambo town is Easterly
Wind.

Therefore, industries and other urban activities which can pollute the town in terms of smoke, dust
particles, noise and stench smell are recommended to be located opposite to the most dominant
prevailing wind direction.

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 Table 2.1: Temperature Condition of Ambo town
Monthly Temperatures(In Degree Celsius)

Annual
Temp
Mean
Year J F M A M J J A S O N D
1999 19.55 20.2 20.1 20.8 19.35 18 16.7 16.65 16.95 17.45 15.35 17.8 18.2417
2000 19.1 20.25 21.85 20.1 19 17.55 17.1 16.95 17.45 17.8 17.75 19.9 18.7333
2001 18.5 20.15 19.75 20.75 19.6 17.5 17.4 18.45 17.05 18.2 18.05 18.8 18.6833
2002 18.8 19.8 19.75 20.6 20.75 18.65 18.15 17.05 18.35 18.6 19.25 19.6 19.1125
2003 16.75 20.3 20.85 20.2 19.85 18.3 17.55 17.6 17.05 17.6 18.75 18.25 18.5875
2004 20.2 20.2 21.5 20.45 20.15 18.85 17.2 17.3 17.35 17.9 18.55 20.9 19.2125
2005 19 21.35 20.95 21.2 19.8 18.3 17.05 17.4 17.9 17.6 17.85 17.85 18.8542
2006 19.9 20.85 20.05 19.8 18.7 18.1 17.6 17.5 17.65 18.7 18.9 18.2 18.8292
2007 19.95 17.15 20.95 20.7 20.2 18.3 17.85 17.2 17.8 18.65 18.8 18.35 18.825
2008 22 23.4 21.9 23.25 19.65 18.35 17.3 16.95 17.7 18.05 18.1 19 19.6375
Mean Monthly
Average Temp 19.375 20.365 20.765 20.785 19.705 18.19 17.39 17.305 17.525 18.055 18.135 18.865 18.8717

Table 2.2 : Rainfall Condition of Ambo town

Monthly Rainfall(mm)
Year J F M A M J J A S O N D Mean Annual RF
1999 8.4 0.3 39.5 12.5 69.2 59.8 173.9 129.9 95.9 119.2 1.3 1 59.2417
2000 0 0 9.3 51.5 93.7 121.2 186.4 191.6 135.4 84.1 20.7 14.8 75.725
2001 5.6 12.5 60.5 70.4 186.1 148.5 219.8 243.1 110.5 41.8 5.4 11 92.9333
2002 78.7 16.9 55.6 56.3 51.9 177.6 162.5 130.2 40.3 3 0 17.8 65.9
2003 32.9 99.3 55 179.1 9.4 209.5 134.2 142.7 78.4 9.3 1.2 16.4 80.6167
2004 38.7 16 30.2 108.7 26.8 137.1 203.6 210.7 134.9 19 0 9.6 77.9417

18
 2005 25.2 0 86.9 47.5 67.7 166.3 158 187.2 98.4 19 12.4 0 72.3833
2006 0 16.7 150.7 65.1 157.7 109.9 196.8 298.6 76.5 17.9 18.8 0 92.3917
2007 49.3 36.8 40.2 38.9 130.9 275.2 232 310.1 187.5 11 0 0 109.325
2008 0 0 1 18.7 157.3 161.8 308 260.2 84 64.8 101.8 2.7 96.6917
Monthly
Average
Mean

RF

23.88 19.85 52.89 64.87 95.07 156.69 197.52 210.43 104.18 38.91 16.16 7.33 82.315

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2.6 Vegetation cover
In the Study area there are almost no remains of endogenous natural vegetation cover. Ambo and its
surrounding areas are dominated by eucalyptus trees, which are owned by the individuals. The
eucalyptus trees are found distributed in all direction of the town and its surroundings. Other trees
observed in the town and its surrounding areas are acacias, cordial (locally Wanza, Wadeessa), Tid/
scientifically Junipers / and coniferous forest trees are other trees found distributed in the town and its
surrounding. Along the riverbanks, in the Ambo Palace, in the known hotels (Ambo Ethiopia Hotel,
Jibatena Mecha Hotel), in the churches and in some other governmental offices we find vegetations,
which keep the urban environment to be green.

Individuals and communities are engaged in planting eucalyptus and other trees for construction
purpose, energy purpose and economical (to earn money after selling) and environmental purpose.
We suggest that along the hilly & sloppy area of the rivers and streams be preserved for the
plantation of different trees for recreation & environmental significance.

Fig. 2.6: Vegetation types In Ambo Ethiopia Hotel & along Hulluuqaa River

2.7 Wild life

Variation of climate and relief in an area provide a wide Variety of wild animals. But nowadays the
number of these wild animals is decreasing due to increasing human population, deforestation,
shifting of forestland to urban settlement, absence of wildlife conservation areas and uncontrolled
hunting. Wild life include Wild animals found in Ambo town are Spotted Hyena (Crocuta Crocuta),
Tree jumping or arboreal animals like Monkey, different birds and aquatic animals like fish and
snake.
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2.8 Geological Aspect and Minerals
The land features of Ambo town are the results of the past geological history and tectonic movement.
During the Mesozoic era sedimentary rock formation of Sandstone occurred in Ambo town. During
the cenozoic era rock of Magdala group which consists of rhyolities trachytes, rhyolitic and trachytic
stuffs, ignimbrites, agglomerates and basalts formed and covers some parts of Ambo.
Volcanic rocks of basaltic flows and related spatter cones; Alkaline Olivin beds are also formed in
the parts of Ambo town and its surrounding areas. According to the data obtained from NUPI (Feb.,
1998) the geology of Ambo & the vicinity comprise rocks of the Trap series, which include various
basaltic lava flows and pyroclastic deposits in the area together with Mesozoic sediments represented
by sandstone calcareous limestone.
The basaltic lava flows in the area include basalt of aphamtic fabric with scarce vesicles and carrying
few phenocrysts together porphyritic vesicular basalt which are characterized by various sized
phenocrysts randomly distributed throughout the basaltic rocks. Main outcrops of the basaltic flows
are found in a number of places to the south, west, southeast, and north of the town.They sometimes
occur as alternate flows separated by layers of pyroclastic lithic tuff and or ash flow deposits as
observed in downstream valley of Hulluuqaa River.

The pyroclastic deposits consist of lithic tuff (lithic rich ignimbrite), ash flows and falls, pumice falls
and surges. However, the lithic tuff and ash flows are most common within the town and the
vicinity.The other pyroclastic deposits are encountered in areas found further south of the town.The
lithic tuff is a poorly-welded light yellow coarse pumiceous ignimbrite characterized by abundant
lithic fragments and pumice clasts which are randomly distributed throughout the rock mass.The size
of the lithics and pumice clasts seldom exceeds 5cm.Very good outcrops of this unit are found along
the course of Taltallee, Hulluuqaa , and other streams and gullies. While the ash flows,which rarely
contain coarse materials and are characterized by white color,often occur as an alternating layer with
the lithic tuff. The other pyroclastic deposits like pumice falls, surges and unwelded tuffs, are
encountered in the area further south of Ambo town as observed in the outcrops along the Ambo-
Wonchi road.

21
The sandstone unit represents a fine to medium grained, well cemented, variegated, and fresh looking
sandstone, which forms the east-west elongated Sanqallee hill located northwest of Ambo town. This
unit belongs to what is regionally identified as the Adigrat sandstone. The calcareous limestone unit,
on the other hand, underlies the above sandstone unit and mainly outcrops around the lime factory in
the area west of the town. Patchy outcrops also occur at the central part of the town.

Fig. 2.7: Sample Rock types in Ambo town

2.9 Soil
2.9.1 Vertisol Soils
The soil types encountered in Ambo and its surrounding include black clay, red clay, sandy silts and
silty clays.The dominant type of soil in Ambo town and its surrounding area is Vertisol soil. Pellic
Vertisol soils which are dark, usually occupying vast areas that are water logged during the rainy
season and shrink & have deep cracks in dry season. Chromic Vertisol soils are brownish in colour
and better drained. The Vertisol soils covers the gently slopes in the southern, eastern and northern
part of the town.

2.9.2 Dystric Nitosol soils

Dystric Nitosol soils are also observed in some part of Ambo especially in Western part around
Sanqallee and Farisii areas. These are deep clay red soils and have a uniform profile, porous and have
22
stable structure. There are impacts (influences) of soil erosion on urban settlement. The impacts are
gully erosion, land degradation, road destruction, cracks when dry which can damage building, very
sticky and plastic when wet that hinders driving vehicles and walking on the road. The salty clays and
sandy silts mainly cover the central parts of the town. They usually occupy topographically flat parts
of the town.

2.10 Geological construction materials

In the town and its surrounding area there are various geological construction materials. The available
geological construction materials in Ambo area include different rocks, sand and red clay. The rocks
and other construction materials are found at the beds of the known rivers in the town, in the
Sanqallee and Farisii of the Western and north western part of the town.
Rocks exploited as quarry stone include sandstone, basalt and to some extent lithic tuffs. The sand
stone, which is traditionally known as “Ambo Stone” or “Sanqallee Stone”, is extensively extracted
from quarries located in Sanqallee area in the western part of the town. This sand stone is famous for
its variegation and easily shape able nature. It is widely used in house walls construction and as
facing stone both within the town and in other areas like Finfinne and even as far places as Nekemte
town. In addition to its use in house construction, “Ambo stone” or “Sanqallee Stone” is also used for
many other purposes including its use as tombstone.

Basalt is quarried from sites located both within and the surrounding areas of the town. It is used both
as quarry stone and crushed aggregate in construction of houses and roads respectively.

Sand used for different purposes is being extracted from the beds (courses) of Hulluuqaa and other
rivers in the area.
Red clay that is particularly found in Sanqallee area is presently exploited to be utilized as fill
material and ceiling in construction of houses within the town. It is believed that the clay could also
be used for brick making. The availability of these materials will make contractors to have wide
housing typology opportunities. Concerning their potential, there is sufficient potential at least to
cover the demands in the plan period.

23
Fig. 2.8: Quarry site at southern part of the town at Goosuu around Taltallee River

Problems Identified
As concerning the environmental impact of exploiting the resources, the following problems were
observed in Ambo town and it‟s surrounding.
 Formation of new cliffs depressions, gullies and intensification of the existing ones.
 Aggravation of soil erosion
 Formation of poorly drained areas & artificial ponds
 Aggravation & intensification of slope movements
 Damaging the land that can be used for other purposes.
Recommendations
The concerned authorities are strongly recommended to control and monitor the quarrying activities.
On this respect the following measures are recommended.
 Abandoning informal quarrying activities or limiting its area
1. Making an environmental impact assessment before issuing license for quarry
developers
 Controlling and monitoring of the quarrying activity, this include limiting of the depth
and widths of the quarry after use and checking up the strength of the fill to reclaim
the site for other uses.
 Effectively collecting taxes from quarrying .The money being collected will help to
create access to the quarry sites and to pay salary for the personnel who will be
assigned for controlling quarrying activities.

24
2.10.1 Mineral Potential
Even though the amount of minerals and the types of minerals are not deeply and highly studied in
the country & in Ambo town there are some mineral resources which are known and used by the
people of the town & its surrounding. Mineral resources that should be considered while dealing with
the existing situation and future development of Ambo town are the mineral water resources and
limestone deposits in the area. The abundant hot water springs are an additional one.

As the data obtained from the Ambo district Minerals and Energy Office Hot natural water which is
the result of the past volcanic movement is one of the known minerals in the town. The other
available minerals in Ambo town are Silica, Limestone, Gypsum (CaSo4, 2H2O), Sandstone (Both
red sand which is found in North-west part of the town at Farisii Village and sand of the rivers beds)
and Ambo mineral bottle water of Sanqallee area at the Western part of the town.
The mineral water resource and the lime stone deposits have been utilized for the production of
bottled mineral water and lime (hydrated lime) respectively for the past few decades up to now. At
the moment, the Ambo mineral water bottling plant and the Ethio-lime factory, both located western
part of Ambo town at Sanqallee manufacture significant amount of their respective products.

2.11 Natural and Manmade Hazard / Constraints

2.11.1 Natural Hazards/constraints
Seismicity: According to the NUPI report of the 1998 no major risk from earthquake hazards is
expected in Ambo area because the town is located outside of the Ethiopian Rift Valley Zone.
According to the seismic risk-zoning map of Ethiopia, Ambo falls within the zone that is
characterized by earth quakes of intensity of 7 to 8 MM with probability of occurrence of 0.99 for
100 years return period.
Steep slope: From field observation along the river valley areas in the western part of the town
(Me‟esa Mountain), Farisii hill in northwestern part of the town are barrier for urban development.
Gullies: Around the perennial rivers, seasonal rivers and stream areas and in some other areas there
appear gullies. These gullies are the hindrance for the urban development of Ambo town.

2.11.2 Manmade constraints

25
Various Organizations: In the western part of the town at Sanqallee village Ambo mineral bottle
factory, Gypsum and lime factories, Sanqallee Police training centre and Sanqallee elementary
schools while in the southern part of the town at Meja village Agricultural crop protection centre are
human barrier, which hamper urban development.
High tension: Along the northwestern part of the town in the Farisii Oddo Liben areas which are
within the newly expansion areas there is high-tension line. This high-tension line is hindrance for
urban development. Therefore care should be taken in this part of the town.
Fire: In the crowded and congested dwelling areas of the town care should be taken not to be
affected by fire. In genda 03 of Ambo town many houses are built close to each other and this
condition may arise fire unless attention and prevention of fire problem is given more emphasis.

2.12 Urban water supply

26
2.12.1 Existing Water supply
Hulluuqaa River is the main existing water supply source of Ambo town. The location of water intake
or capture is south east of the town. It is here that water is tapped. Then raw water is purified in the
clarifier and settled out of the water with the help of aluminum. The filter sieves the remaining
particles out. Then the water is lead to the pumping station & from this it is forced to the treatment
plant which is located in genda 02 along Finfinne-Ambo road in the eastern side of the town. Here the
water is treated by the prepared chemical solutions and then lead to the reservoir. From the reservoir
pure water is distributed to the town by distribution networks. The other source of water supply is
borehole water.

According to the Ambo Water Supply & Sewerage Service Office (WSSSO) almost 75% of the total
population of the town gets potable water at the moment .4736 housing units are connected in pipe
water network until April 2009.The number of public taps or water points is 21 which are distributed
in the town and all of them are operational.
2.12.2 Existing Water Production and Consumption
Table 2.3: Existing Water Production, Consumption and Losses of Ambo town from 2003 to
2008(1996 to 2000 E.C)
Fiscal Year (June _ July) Production in m3 Consumption in m3 Losses
M3 Percent
1996(2003/2004) 409080 360711 48369 12
1997(2004/2005) 462376 404677 57699 12.5
1998(2005/2006) 520663 437896 82767 16
1999(2006/2007) 550683 431129 119554 22
2000(2007/2008) 608197 524083 84114 14
Source: Ambo WSSSO

As can be seen from the above table both the production and consumption of water is increasing in
the past five years. Even though the loss of water is increasing in the past four years in 2008
drastically decreased and accounted for 14% of the production. This much amount of losses either in
leakage from the system or un-metered consumption is assumed to be very high in Ambo town.

2.12.3 Existing Water Demand and Projection

27
According to the Ambo WSSSO the average daily domestic demand, public demand and industrial
demand are 793 m3/day, 543 m3/day and 7 m3/day respectively. Therefore the total daily demand is
1343 m3/day but with 70 m3/hour production rate the total daily production is 1680m3/day. But due
to high losses and leakage of water while distributed throughout the town in terms of coverage there
is shortage of water.
In addition the average consumption of water per person /day is 0.02m3 and the current population of
the town is 67514. With this average consumption the total daily consumption of the population of
the town is 1350.28m3/day. The projected population in 2019 is expected to be 104112 and if the
current average consumption of water per person is assumed to be constant the average daily water
consumption of the population of the town after 10 years will be 2082.24m3/day.
Problems Identified
 There is inadequate water supply;
 During dry season there is no sustainable water supply;
 There is old system of water treatment plant which is not able to respond to the demand
created with increasing number of population and expansion of the town;
Recommendation
 The old system treatment plant should be serviced & maintained urgently;
 New & Improved water supply system and distribution should be designed;
 With new water supply system identification of new sanitation of water project should be
designed;
 Sustainable water supply should be developed;
2.13 Waste Disposal and Urban Environment
Due to the increasing number of population from year to year the urban environment of Ambo has
been deteriorating from time to time and from year to year.

2.13.1 Solid Waste

There are solid waste disposal sites in the town. The solid wastes are disposed in landfills, which are
located in genda 02 and 03 along the bank of Hulluuqaa River. These waste disposal sites are located
at incompatible area because they are found just near the edge of Hulluuqaa River.

28
A truck which is used for solid waste collection and disposal is not always giving service due to spare
part problem and most of the time it enters in garage for maintenance. When the truck is serviced &
became normal it serves the town three days in a week with respect to the three gendas in the town.
Since there are no garbage containers placed at different corners by the municipality for the collection
of wastes, every household has to collect the garbage in a sack or basket and then loads it on the truck
when it tours in genda 01, 02 and 03 0n Monday, Wednesday and Friday respectively. Otherwise the
community burns the wastes on their own initiative. But for the time being the municipality is
collecting and transporting the solid wastes by manually driven two wheel containers, which are
obtained from the aid of WHO by the labours.

Fig. 2.9: Solid Waste Disposed around Hot spring of Ethiopia Hotel at the Hulluuqaa River
bank

Problems Identified
 Solid wastes are disposed in the town in different places by the community here and there,
this means that there is critical solid wastes in the town;
 Most of the solid wastes are not properly collected;
 The truck is so old that most of the time it does not give function;
 The municipality has no strong financial resource and capacity to solve this critical problem;
 The existing solid waste disposal sites found in both genda 02 and 03 are located in
incompatible areas because they cause for water pollution of Hulluuqaa River;
 There are no private sectors or other organizations which are involved in waste disposal
management except the municipality;

29
2.13.2 Liquid Waste
There is no specified or formal liquid waste disposal site for the town. Liquid waste was dumped or
disposed on the farmers plot on their request. The farmers were requesting the municipality to dump
liquid waste on their plots before crop seasons. During the crop season or in the summer (Locally
called Kermit or rainy season), however, the farmers are not interested the waste to be disposed on
their farm plots.

The old suction truck or evacuating truck of the municipality which was giving collection and
transportation service for the town similar to that of solid waste transporting truck is also most of the
time enters in garage for maintenance. Hence there is a serious problem of liquid waste collection and
transportation to the dumping place. In the town there are 4 communal toilets and 29 public toilets,
which are distributed through out in the town. But with the increasing number of the population and
the expansion of the town these numbers of toilets are very small.

Problem Identified
 There is no liquid disposal site in the fringe of the town;
 The municipality has no normal & modern suction truck;
 There is no organizations which are involved in the disposal of liquid the same to that of
solid;
 No enough number of communal and public toilets in the town;
 There is sanitation problem in the town;
 The farmers are exposed to health problems;
Recommendations
 Appropriate and compatible solid & liquid waste disposal site shall be allotted;
 The municipality shall get its own modern solid waste transporting truck & liquid suction
truck by conducting or designing strategies;
 Private organizations shall be encouraged to involve in liquid waste disposal;
 Enough number of communal and public toilets shall be prepared by the municipality of the
town and the town health post office to the population of the town by designing certain
strategies;

30
  The concerned body shall give training, supervise and control regarding the sanitation of the
town;
2.14 Pollution
Pollution changes the quality of the natural environment. It upsets the natural entity of the physical,
chemical, bacteriological and socio-economic components of the environment. Today, because of the
ever-increasing population, industrialization, urbanization and other human activities, pollution
problem is a burning issue.

2.14.1 Water pollution

In Ambo town, rivers like Hulluuqaa and Taltallee are polluted from different sources. There are
different pollution sources like washing of clothes along the river courses and taking baths, which
discharges detergents to the rivers. The other major pollution sources are solid wastes dumped into
the river from households, commercial areas and slaughterhouse. Defecating on the bank of the river,
connecting septic tanks, toilet, and other effluent pipes directly to the river courses are some of the
major pollution sources. Untreated wastewater from slaughterhouse is also discharged directly into
Hulluuqaa River.
2.13.2 Air pollution
There are three broad sources of air pollution from human activities; stationary or point (industries,
power plants), mobile (Vehicular), and indoor air pollution (Open fires from cooking & heating).
Though there are no large-scale industries in Ambo town, small-scale industries like flourmills,
Gypsum factories are known to emit dusts to the environment. The unpleasant odor from abattoir is
also one source of the town‟s air pollution.
Currently, the number of vehicles is increasing in Ambo town. In addition to the old day vehicles
existing in the town, imported second hand cars are contributing much to air pollution. The carbon
monoxide and carbon dioxide coming out from different vehicles in the Ambo town pollute the air.
The main sources of indoor air pollution is the burning of low quality fuel such as dung, charcoal,
wood, leaves and grain residue. It has a serious effect on the health of children as well as residents in
the house.

31
In Ambo town, the percentage of households using low-quality energy sources for different purposes
is higher. Therefore, indoor pollution in the city is likely to be high. The effect of this is not only
limited to affecting the health of the users but also have adverse effect on the environment.
2.14.3 Noise Pollution
Noise is unwanted sound in the town. In Ambo town some garages, wood and metal works, music
shops, tooting sounds of vehicles are some of the major sound pollution sources. In addition sounds
from some religious institutions and music from some hotels and restaurants disturbs the quietness of
nighttime.
2.14.4 Visual Pollution
Indiscriminate waste disposal on roads and roadsides, ditches, in the banks of the rivers and streams
and open spaces create unpleasant sites in addition to their negative effect on human health. Solid
wastes disposed from individual homes, business or commercial houses and other areas in different
places in the town are the main and serious visual pollutants. Liquid discharged from individual
homes, from garages, business houses and the like are also affecting the beauty of the town.

2.15. Urban Transport

2.15.1. Inter urban transport
Ambo town has good road accessibility with other towns. Ambo town makes physical
communication with other towns through roads and vehicles. From Ambo town daily different
vehicles transport passengers to different towns within the zone and outside the zone and vice versa.

Table 2.4: Daily distribution of bus, medium bus and mini bus public transport from and or to
Ambo permanently
No Types of Vehicles Destination/Departure No of daily Deployed Remark
Vehicles
1 Mini bus Ambo_Finfinne 35
2 Bus Ambo_Finfinne 2
3 Medium bus Ambo_Bako 8
4 Bus Ambo_Bako 2
5 Medium bus Ambo_Gedo 15
6 Bus Ambo_Gedo 3

32
7 Medium bus Ambo_Ijaji 3
8 Bus Ambo_Ijaji 2
9 Mini bus Ambo_ Guder 5
10 Medium bus Ambo_Guder 80
11 Bus Ambo_Guder 10
12 Medium bus Ambo_ Shanan 9
13 Medium bus Ambo_Inchini 1
14 Mini bus Ambo_Ginchi 45
15 Medium bus Ambo_Ginchi 3
16 Medium bus Ambo_Sayo 2
17 Mini bus Ambo_Meti 5
18 Medium bus Ambo_Meti 1
19 Bus Ambo_Meti 4
20 Medium bus Ambo_Altufa 3
21 Bus Ambo_Altufa 2
22 Mini bus Ambo_Holota 3
23 Medium bus Ambo_Holota 2
Total Daily Vehicle Deployed from and/or to Ambo 245
Source: west Shewa zone trade and industry development office

From the above table we can see that the number of daily-deployed vehicles, which transport
passengers from Ambo to Guder, is 95. This highest vehicles movement between Ambo to Guder and
Vice Versa is resulted from:-
The distance between Ambo to Guder is 12km which is the shortest distance from other town;
Some people live in Ambo or Guder and Work in Ambo or Guder;
The Toke Kutaye district offices are located in Guder so that people travel regularly from
Ambo to Guder for cases related to offices;
People travel from Guder to Ambo to Get Services from hospital, shops, recreational areas &
like;
From Ambo-Ginchi and Ambo_Finfinne & vice versa are the second in which high daily vehicles
deployed to and from them.This is due to well built asphalt road and other social and economical
factors.

33
2.15.2 Intra urban Transport
Road transport service is available within the town in addition to the nearby towns. Lada and Toyota
small taxies, Bajaj Taxies and Mini bus taxies are serving in the town from 12:00 in the morning to
3:00(Local hours) in the evening regularly. They are serving the community along the main asphalt
road only doing trips between water treatment plant station which is located at the eastern part of the
town along Finfinne-Ambo road and Ambo Health Station which is located at the Western part
(Farisii or Pan Africa Village) of the town along Ambo-Welega road. Because of the inconvenient
gravel roads for vehicles in the town, Lada & Toyota small taxies, Bajaj Taxies and Mini bus taxies
are limited only along main (asphalt) road to give transport services to the community.

In addition to motorized transport services in the town there are also non–motorized transport
services in the town. Carts which transport only goods from market to home along the main asphalt
road & gravel roads are the other means of transportation in the town in addition to that of human
portages. Both carts and human portages give good services within the town especially during the
market days.

Many people in the town also walk on foot from their home to office or from office to their home,
from the colleges to their home and from home to colleges, from home to business areas and from
business areas to their home for work, learning, shopping and recreation.

Problems identified
 The taxies are limited only short distance from west to east or east to west along the main
asphalt road;
 Collector and appropriate transport routes are not convenient for taxi trips;

Recommendations
 Some collector and local roads shall be asphalted or well leveled by the government and the
city administration so that the taxi services to be extended in distances, trips and directions;
2.16 The existing Bus Station
The location of the existing Ambo bus station is in the central part of the town in genda 02 just at the
edge of the main asphalt road. The total area of the bus station is 5400 m2 and as we have got data
from the West Shewa Zone Trade, Transport and Tourism office and the town Police Office the size
of the bus station is very small to accommodate the daily assigned vehicles. The daily vehicles

34
departed and arrived from the station ranges from 245-250 in numbers. We have also proved the
existing area of the bus station to be very small in size while we were conducting field observation.

Fig.2.10: The existing bus station in gate way and rear way

Problems Identified
 The existing bus station area is small in size as compared to the number of vehicles to
accommodate so that certain vehicles stand outside its fence. In addition the area is not
leveled;
 Located just beside the main asphalt road;
 Most of the time it is overcrowded;
 In some part it is almost surrounded by the business & mixed residential houses;
 When the existing bus station is filled with vehicles loading and unloading of passengers is
taking place just on the main asphalt road so that traffic accidents unintentionally occur
some times;
 The existing bus station has one narrow gate and therefore entrance and exist of vehicles is
very, very difficult;
 When the vehicles come to enter & exist from the station through the gate, they
immediately face small business shops in front of them so that turning of vehicles is very
difficult, and this leads to high traffic accidents;

35
  When the vehicles exit from the station they will directly turn left side and inter the main
asphalt road so that they will create high congestion and sometimes traffic accidents;
 The existing bus station & its surrounding has sanitation problem;
 The existing bus station has shortage of electric power shortage;

Recommendations
 The existing bus station is to be relocated in the appropriate area;
 The bus station shall be provided by the entrance gate and exit gate separately;
 The beauty of the bus station shall be kept by the concerned body so that it attracts the
passengers, and makes the urban environment clean;

2.17 Freights Terminal (High Vehicles parking)

In Ambo town there are no high vehicles parking. As we have seen from the physical observation and
the data obtained from Urban Police Office, high vehicles and medium vehicles (medium, high trucks
and truck trails) are parking every where they want both in the left and right side of the main asphalt
road in the morning, at noon and at evening with the exception of limited areas. This is because
Ambo town serves as transit for vehicles from Finfinne to Western zonal towns or regions and vice
versa. Therefore traffic congestion is created at certain moment during the day in the town.

During the time from 5:30 PM (11:30 local time in the afternoon) to 8:30PM(2:30 local time in the
evening) high pedestrians flow in the town in both left and right side of the main asphalt road in the
town. With the narrow and limited pedestrian roads or walk ways together with high vehicles parking
in different parts of the town along the main asphalt road over crowdedness and high congestion is
observed in the town especially in the central part of the town. Due to this condition the pedestrians
forced to use the closed ditch ways in the left and right side of the main asphalt road and the asphalt
road itself.

The pedestrians of Ambo town are appreciated and are unique among other passengers of the towns
of Ethiopia because they regularly follow their right walkways. The other thing which is observed in
the town is that when high and medium vehicles park in different parts of the town for various

36
purposes, taxis and residents‟ cars do not get places for loading and unloading passengers. In this
hindrance situation the pedestrians also face a great problem to flow in the town and to cross the road.

The bicyclists are also used the main asphalt road as non-motorized transport. Almost all pedestrians
dominantly flow on the main asphalt road walk ways because there is no other alternative and
convenient secondary roads with business alongside which attract them, and make them to flow from
western part of the town to the eastern and vice versa. Even on the main asphalt road there are no
enough traffic signs and symbols, which prohibit the carts to flow on the main asphalt road.

Fig. 2.11: The medium and high vehicles parking along both side of the road

Problems Identified
 Some kinds of international signs and symbols are not found along the main asphalt roadside;
 Two ways of an asphalted main road to accommodate all the different vehicles in the town;
 Parking of high and medium vehicles is almost everywhere in the town;
 There is no other convenient alternative secondary road which can make the pedestrians to
flow from Western part of the town to the eastern part of the town and vice versa;
 Carts which load and unload commodities appear on the main asphalt roads;
 There is no specified taxi parking lots in the town;

Fig. 2.12: Pedestrians while flowing in the town

37
Recommendations
 All international signs and symbols shall be installed in both sides of the main asphalt road;
 The existing asphalt road shall be one way asphalt road with wide walk ways;
 High and medium parking sites shall be allotted in the town;
 Alternative secondary road with business alongside which leads from the west to east or vice
versa shall be constructed in the town;
 There shall be taxi parking lots in the town;
 The carts only shall use the secondary and tertiary roads;

2.18 Fuel Stations

There are two Shell Fuel Stations in Ambo town in genda 01 and 02.The average daily supply
capacity of the stations is 22000 litters while the average daily demand of the users is 2783 litters.
There is one new fuel station under construction in the town while survey is being conducted in the
town.

Table 2.5: The Fuel Holding Capacity of the existing stations

Town Capacity in litter

Name of fuel station Benzene Gasoline Kerosene
Ambo Ambo Shell Service 30400 30400 30400
Ambo (Yeshi) Shell Fuel Station 30000 45000 30000
Total 60400 75400 60400
Source: Fuel Stations of Ambo

38
As can be observed from the table the stations have the fuel capacity of 91200 litters and 105,000
litters respectively as a whole. With this fuel holding capacity there is high gap between the average
daily supply and the average daily demands of the fuel in the town. The supply is greater than the
demands so that there is no problem of fuel under normal conditions.

2.19 Traffic Accidents

Table 2.6 Traffic Accidents of Ambo Town 1996-2000 E.C
Year Death Heavy Light Total Property Damages
Accidents Accidents No of Amount (In
Accident birr)
1996(2003/2004) 4 5 5 14 9 50500
1997(2004/2005) 4 7 16 27 10 25500
1998(2005/2006) 3 3 5 11 3 35000
1999(2006/2007) 1 4 1 6 13 108200
2000(2007/2008) 10 4 1 15 6 105700
Total 22 23 28 72 41 324900
Source: Ambo Town Police Station, 2009

As can be observed from the table above even though the occurrences of traffic accidents in human
deaths seem declining, in 2007/2008 the death of human being is recorded to be highest. The main
reasons for the occurrence of these traffic accidents are:
 Very fast driving of vehicles;
 Drivers do not give priority for pedestrians in place and time they have to give;
 Pedestrians do not give priority for vehicles in place and time they have to give;
 The asphalt road is two ways of road;

In order to minimize the traffic accidents appearing every years

 The traffic police arrive at a place where accident occurred, bring the driver to the
court and gives education to the people in different times;

39
  To minimize the accident deploying traffic polices in an area where there is high
traffic flow or congestion;
 To give awareness on traffic accident and about traffic condition for the people and
drivers;

From field observation, which was conducted in the town, it is clearly identified that in the town with
the exception of a few traffic signs and symbols all international traffic signs and symbols like
preventive, controlling, prohibiting, forcing etc are not implemented. This condition will be a cause
for great traffic problems in the town.
2.20 Communications
2.20.1 Telephone Service
The Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation Ambo Senior Area Office gives fixed line, mobile,
and internet services. The number of clients which have fixed telephone line in Ambo town and its
surrounding in 2007/2008 is 8371.

Functions Number of clients in years

1997(2004/ 1998(2005/ 1999(2006/ 2000(2007/
2005) 2006) 2007) 2008)
Residential 3892 5633 6277 6546
Commercial 669 858 960 996
Industrial - - - -
Governmental 446 538 616 704
Public organization - - - -
Others 97 109 114 125
Total 5104 7138 7138 8371
Table 2.7: The trend of fixed telephone lines by functions
Source: Ethiopian telecommunication corporation Ambo branch

As can be seen from the table the number of fixed line telephone users is increasing from time to time.
Regarding the mobile telephone in the town until 2005/2006 the number of the mobile telephone

40
users registered by the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation of Ambo Senior Area Office is
1659.It is clear that there are more immigrants in the town so that the total number of mobile users is
expected to be very high. Internet line connection was not supplied in the past five years in Ambo
town. But now in the town few supply lines are observed; and the Ethiopian Telecommunications
Corporation of Ambo Senior Area Office is ready to supply the Internet lines as subscribers
requested.

Problems Identified
 Shortage of exchange capacity of the fixed line;
 Shortage of primary and secondary cable in the fixed line;
 Very high network problem and broken mobile network so that communication in
mobile telephone is very difficult;
 There is unmatched demand and supply,
 The channels existing in the town is very limited;
 Delaying of speed internet line because of crowded network;
 Even if there is a supply, many people do not have knowledge about internet or not
have consciousness;

Recommendations
 The concerned body should expand the exchange capacity of fixed line primary and
secondary cable to enhance urban development;
 The concerned body should work to satisfy the customers need through network
expansion and additional channels;
 The concerned body should add BTS (Base Transmission Station) in the town and/or
around;
 The concerned body should make the optical fibers in loop system;
 To expand the internet network to enhance urban development;
 To make awareness creation about Internet to the people;

2.20.2 Postal Service

41
The existing postal office of Ambo town was founded in 1935 with an area of 1000m2 in genda 02 in
front of the Shell Gas Depot (Station), which is found in O2 Genda beside Abebech Metaferia Hotel
along the main asphalt road. The location of this post office is almost convenient to its services it
gives to the customers. In addition to the collecting and dispatching letters, the postal office gives the
services of payment of salary for pensioners, transfers money, sells mobile cards & simcards and
collects income tax. Out of the total 650 postal boxes that the post office has only 450 boxes are
supplied to the customers based up on the request of the customers. This means that the supply is
greater than the demand.

42
 Year Domestic International
Incoming Outgoing Incoming Outgoing
Ordinary Registered Ordinary Registered Ordinary Registered Ordinary Registered
1996(2003/2004) 9203 3844 8413 4120 2612 92 1981 76
1997(2004/2005) 10076 2654 9242 2774 2217 80 1786 78
1998(2005/2006) 15302 4353 13992 6340 4759 151 3397 187
1999(2006/2007) 9239 4441 9426 6475 4172 92 2902 158
2000(2007/2008) 6373 4196 6289 4666 3649 110 2496 123
Table 2.8: Distribution of the incoming and outgoing domestic and International letters in Ambo
Source: Ambo Postal Office

43
As can be seen from the table the domestic and international incoming & outgoing letters are fluctuating
from time to time due to alternative e-mail communication. The postal office has no serious problems
except that of transportation of mails from Ambo post office to other postal offices in the country.

2.21 Electric Service

Ambo town started to get electric power in 1946 and now there is 24 hours electric power service in the
town. The source of power comes from HEP Hormat substation, which is found outside the town. The
daily electric production capacity of the town at the moment is 6MW while the average daily electric
consumption in the town is 3.5MW

Table 2.9: The Average daily consumption of electric power by functions

Consumption Residential Industries (including Commercial Governmental
of electricity like garage and small organizations Organizations
in MW or scale)
KWH 19317KWH 3MW 1848KWH 50KWH
Source: Ethiopia electric power corporation Ambo district

Table 2.10: The no of clients and applicants in 2000 (2007/2008) for electricity
Functions No. of clients Percentage No. Of Percentage
applicants
Residential 2000 94.5 1509 95.0
Commercial 80 3.7 53 3.3
Industrial 25 1.3 18 1.1
Governmental 10 0.5 9 0.6
Public organization
Others
Total 2115 100 1589 100
Source: Ethiopia electric power corporation Ambo district

As can be seen from both tables‟ high numbers of clients (94.56 %) are found in residential function but
high electric consumption (50%) is found in industrial function. In the town there are no enough electric
lights along the roads (Asphalt road and other roads) due to lack of organizing public sector at large,

44
poor condition of living standard and low gendas‟ budget. Even though there are investment sectors,
which need high power, there is no lack of electric power in the town now. The alternative source of
power for the future need is generator.

Problems Identified
 Wrongly constructed houses in the town created hindrance;
 Dissatisfaction of the applicants;
 Lack of planning;
Recommendation
 To increase the daily production of electricity;

2.22 Municipal Services

2.22.1 The Existing General Market
The existing general market was established before the foundation of the town. It is located in genda 03
at the central part of the town. With small area the existing general market is almost enclosed by the
mixed-use residents & pure residents. The market gives service to the population of the town & it‟s
surrounding on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday. Due to its small size to accommodate the people, the
general market is forced to go out of its normal place. Because of this problem the people of the town &
their surrounding by their own initiative established other small informal markets in genda 01 and 02.
These informal markets, which are established by the people, are considered as mini markets (Gulet or
kochi) by the municipality.

The mini market established in genda 02(Locally called “Gabaa Baqqalaa”) between the fences of
Ibrahim Garage and the edge of the fence of Ambo secondary & preparatory school is giving service to
the people along the main asphalt road and secondary road while the mini market of genda 01 is also
giving service to the people along the Woliso road to the southern direction of the town.

Fig. 2.13: Mini Market (Gaba Abba Baqqala) along the roads located in genda o2

45
Problems Identified
 The existing general market place is very narrow;
 There is high congestion in the existing general market;
 The existing general market is overcrowded by the users during the market days;
 At peak hours during the market days entrance and exist in the general market is very, very
difficult;
 Generally there is high traffic flow around the existing general market;
 Due to the narrowness of the market exchange of commodities is also taking place along the
roads and different corners;
 The mini markets are located along the roads so that vehicles cannot flow easily or the roads are
sometimes closed;
 There is no communal toilet in the existing market area;
 The solid waste and liquid waste are disposed in the nearby Hulluuqaa river from the existing
general market;

Recommendations
 The existing general market place is to be upgraded and redeveloped by expanding in different
directions paying equitable compensation for those residents who evacuate from their location
due to expansion of the market;
 The mini markets located in the 01 and 02 gendas along the road to Woliso and Finfinne shall be
relocated to compatible, appropriate and standardized site;
 Communal toilets should be constructed by the municipality of the town both in the general
market and mini market areas;
 Urban transportation control should be conducted around the markets during the market days;

46
2.22.2 Cattle Market
Except the sheep market there is no cattle market in Ambo town. The people of the town and the
surrounding area use the cattle market of the nearby Guder town market. The existing sheep market of
Ambo town is located in genda 02 certain distances far away east of the existing general market. This
existing sheep market is enclosed by fence and surrounded by the Ambo kindergarten, Ambo
Elementary School, health station and residents. On an open space and on the road just around the
existing sheep market horses are sold on Saturday informally without the legal will of the municipality.

Plate 2.9: The existing sheep market and Informal Horse market of Ambo town on
Saturday

Problems Identified
 The people of the town and the surrounding move certain kilometers distance to Guder town to
get cattle market so that they are exposed to extra expense;
 The location of the existing sheep market is incompatible;
 Horses are sold on open plain & road area without having legal ground and hence the
municipality doesn‟t collect tax from it;

Recommendations

47
  Compatible, appropriate and standardized new livestock market shall be established in the town
in the planning period.

2.22.3 Abattoir (Slaughter House)

The existing abattoir is located in genda 03 along the roadside on the way to Oddo Liben Elementary
School in north central part of the town. The existing abattoir with an area of about less than 1 hectare is
assumed to be enough to serve the current demand of the population of the town. The blood from
abattoir is discharged down to the Hulluuqaa River while other wastes from the abattoir are disposed in
the infill land around the bank of the Hulluuqaa River. Now the wastes disposed from the abattoir fill
this infill land. Even though the municipality advises the clients and takes simple actions on illegal
slaughtering, illegal slaughtering is still now conducted in the town. This illegal slaughtering probably
creates health and sanitation problem to the population of the town.

Problems Identified
 The blood (liquid) is discharged down to the Hulluuqaa river & pollute the river whereas the
other wastes from the abattoir are disposed in the infill land near Hulluuqaa River & pollute the
river so that it creates environmental problem;
 There is also sanitation problem in the abattoir;
 There is lack of transportation to distribute the meats to the clients except the open carts;
 There is lack of examination materials and experts;
 There is a shortage of skilled technical persons (Slaughters);
 Cattles are slaughtered without examination in the town illegally and this leads to health and
sanitation problems;

Recommendations
 The abattoir shall be redeveloped as it is;
 In fill land should be prepared for blood discharge and the stored blood in the hole shall be
scientifically changed in to other form to preserve the Hulluuqaa river;
 The land in filled by wastes from the abattoir shall be exploited for fertilizer purpose and again
be prepared for disposal;
 The city administration and municipality shall buy distributer cars;

48
  It is better if the city administration shall recruits enough experts, enough slaughters and buy
examination materials;
 It is better if the municipality shall follow the sanitation of the abattoir regularly;

2.23 Ambo town Storm water drainage network

2.23.1 Introduction
Storm water is component of precipitation water that includes surface runoff, leakage water, ground
water and water that drain from different services. The storm water which is produced as runoff water
must be properly managed and discharged to natural water way (an acceptable outlet) using storm
drainage facility. Storm drainage facilities consist of curbs, gutters, storm drains, channels and culverts.
The placement and hydraulic capacities of storm drainage structures and conveyances shall be designed
to take into consideration damage to adjacent property, availability of construction material and funds.

2.23.2 Objective of sub topic

It is obvious that urban storm water will cause a great damage to the surrounding property unless it is
properly managed. So, the primary objective of studying storm water drainage system is that to assess
the drainage problem of the town and analyze drainage problem, analyze the existing topography of the
town, analyze the recharging watershed including hinterland, analyze hydrological data and to propose
appropriate urban storm water drainage network that minimize the problem.

2.23.3 Topographic feature of the town

Ambo town lies within Abbey basin water shed region. It is situated on the main arterial road of
Finfinne to Nekemte at about 115km to west of Finfinne. The topography of Ambo town is irregular and
it is surrounded by a chain of terrain namely Wadesa from the north; Mi‟esa, Tulu Dimtu, Sankale and
Odo Liban from south west to North West; Goromti, Hilo from south east and Daba from south. It has a
moderate climate and its dominant soil type is black cotton (vertisoil). From all of these terrains storm
water drain (flow) down to the town through different streams and channels. It become highly deforested
that makes storm water (flood) generated within them to erode the bank of the river and stream and
surface soil forming new water way (gorge).

49
There are much of natural water ways passing in the town and near adjacent of the town which is used to
convey storm water (flood) and discharge to the last outlet Abay River. The perennial rivers in the town
are Huluka, Senkale, Aleltu, Awaro, Boji, Dabis and kerise. River Huluka, Senkale, Boji and Kerise are
flows to North West of the town conveying storm water from terrain of southern part and river Dabis,
Aleltu and Awaro flows from eastern part of the town to west. There are also many intermittent streams
and gorges that receive runoff from inlets and convey the runoff to some point where it is then
discharged into these river.

2.23.4 Ambo town drainage issue

Ambo town drainage problem is dominantly due to urbanization that change land surface characteristic
without proper coverage of drainage line. There is no probability of flood hazard and water stagnation
problem from the adjacent recharging catchment area of storm water due to that many steam and
channel flow in the town by receiving runoff from inlet and convey where it then discharged to outlet
channel. But storm water runs over roads, rooftops, and compacted land poses a hazard to a habitats
property owing to the increase in water velocity and volume for surface runoff water.

Other factor that aggravate drainage problem is;

 Flooding and stagnation of water because of low laying area especially in genda 3 and 2 around
Arada and
 Flooding caused by negligence to clean ditches and construct flood protection structure
 Disposing of solid waste in open ditch and natural waterway.
 Overflow of ditch and flow channels during high rainy time.
 Land degradation e.g. 01 genda around
 Deterioration of existing ditch.

2.23.5 Existing drainage line coverage

The present drainage line coverage is very inadequate that only federal arterial road, Jibat hotel to Ambo
agricultural research institute collector road, a collector road from Alem hotel to Arada around market
site and other few roads have a side ditch.

Storm water drainage facilities

50
It is a drainage system structure that receives runoff water from its inlet and conveys the runoff to some
point where it is then discharged to channel and streams. It may include that;
Open ditch i.e. lined or unlined and rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal in shape.

Closed ditch
Drop structure, manhole, street inlet, connection, box or pipe culvert, sand/silt trap structure, out-fall
structure, retaining wall, cross slop to collect runoff and grills to refine unwanted material.

Designing storm water

Urban storm water consists of runoff from all residence, building, street and footpath, yards, open
spaces, bare lands and chain of terrains that surround the town in all direction. Hence, the storm water
(flood), which is produced as runoff, must be properly managed and drained out to the existing natural
waterways. This requires appropriately designed drainage network using the appropriate hydrologic
formula.

2.23.6 Hydrology Analysis

Hydrology for the purpose of this section will deal with estimating flood magnitudes as a result of
precipitation. In the design of drainage facilities, which are designed to control volume of runoff, like
time of detention facilities, or where flood rooting through culvert is used, the entire discharge
hydrograph will be of interest. The analysis of the peak rate of runoff, volume of runoff, and time
distribution of flow is fundamental to the design of drainage structures. Errors in the estimates will result
in a structure that is either undersized and causes more drainage problems or oversized and costs more
than necessary. In the hydrologic analysis for a drainage structure, there are many variable factors that
affect floods. Some of which need to be recognized and considered on an individual site by site bases
include:
 Rainfall amount and storm distribution;
 Catchment area size, shape and orientation;
 Ground cover;
 Type of soil;
 Slopes of terrain and stream(s);

51
  Antecedent moisture condition;
 Storage potential (overbank, ponds, wetlands, reservoirs, channel, etc.); and
 Catchment area development potential

2.23.7 Rain fall intensity rate

The rain fall intensity I is the average rainfall rate in mm/hr for a particular basin or sub basin. A 20 year
daily maximum rain fall and annual number of rainy days are obtained from National metrological
agency as in the table below

Table 2.11: The rainfall intensity rate f the town

SUM MEAN
HRF 40 66.8 38.5 38.6 38.6 33.2 50 34.6 50 28.9 49 48.9 31.2 57.1 28.1 37.3 49 44.6 47 846 2724
NRO 140 143 119 118 130 127 141 117 137 138 130 143 134 143 150 123 141 169 144 38.455 123.818

Source: Ambo University

Estimation of rainfall magnitude for different duration and return period

The general Bell equation is summarized as follows;
Rtt = (0.21lnT+0.52)(0.54t0.25-0.5) R6010
For 2≤T≤100 years and 5≤t≤100 minutes
Where RtT=rain fall depth in mm of a “T” years return period and “t” minute duration
T = recurrence interval (return period) of storm in years
t= rainfall duration in min.
R6010= rainfall depth in mm of one hour duration and 10 years return period
Using daily rainfall data
R6010=0.27MN0.33
Where, M= mean of maximum daily rainfall depth in mm
N= mean of total number rainy days within certain number of years (N≤80)
The relationship b/w rainfall duration and intensity is graphically expressed by IDF (intensity duration
frequency) curve below.

Fig. 2.15: Intensity-duration-frequency curve

52
Respecting all other factor that affect storm water quantity, a five year recurrence interval is adopted for
the design purpose. The relationship b/w rainfall and intensity are often expressed by standard Steer
formula
I=a/ (b+td)c
Where I= rainfall intensity (mm/hr)
td= rainfall duration (hr)
b= regionally applicable constant
a & c= obtained bi-variation regression based on rainfall data

Peak runoff rate prediction (design discharge)

The rational formula used to estimates the peak rate of runoff at any location in a catchment area as a
function of the catchment area, runoff coefficient, and means rainfall intensity for duration equal to the
time of concentration.

Q=CIA
Where, Q=discharge (m³/s)
C=runoff coefficient
I=rainfall intensity (mm/hr)
A=catchment area (ha)
53
Time of concentration (tc)
It the time required for runoff to become established and from the most distant point of the drainage area
to the point of discharge. The following formula is used calculate
Tc= 1.8(1.1-c) L0.5/ S0.333
Where Tc = time of concentration (hr)
L=flow length (m)
S= surface slope, %
C= runoff coefficient

Determining hydraulic capacity of the channels

The most widely used formula for determining the hydraulic capacity of the channels for gravity and
pressure flows are Manning‟s formula and it is expressed by the following equation.
Q=VA=1/n*R2/3S1/2
Where, V= mean velocity of flow, m/s
n= manning‟s roughness coefficient
R= hydraulic radius
S= slop of energy grade line, m/m
Q= rate of flow, m3/s
A= cross sectional of area flow, m3

Choosing of alternative type and shapes depends on: -

Aesthetic value, maintenance condition, capacity (Skilled and Financial), material availability, slope,
surface coverage and other

2.24 Ground Water Hydrology

Ground water is a water deposit laying underground surface. The occurrence and movement of
groundwater are related to physical forces acting in the subsurface and the geologic environment in
which they occur. Groundwater moves through the sub-surface from areas of greater hydraulic head to
areas of lower hydraulic head. Although detailed hydrological study has not made in the area, the
topographic location, geological condition, some physical feature shows occurrence of high ground
water potential. Being its existence at the foot of the circumscribed chain of terrain it owns a wide

54
recharging catchment area starting from the top of the terrain which is high in hydraulic head to low
laying town place of low hydraulic head.

From the assessment of geological condition of the area, it can be deduced that the basaltic rock
particularly the weathered and/or fractured ones, the calcareous limestone unit, and scoria are all highly
permeable aquifer material expected to host exploitable of groundwater. The other physical feature that
assure occurrence of ground water is hot spring water (Burqa ho‟a), broad leaf trees (Wadecha, Lafto,
Ambo tree, etc) and a borehole made for town water supply, which have high discharging, potential. In
the town the most expected location for occurrence of ground water is around Awaro low laying and flat
site and Ambo water factory.

CHAPTER THREE
3. Demographic Characteristics and Urban Social Services
3.1 Demographic analysis and population projection
3.1.1 Introduction
Demographic analysis is concerned with the size, composition, and distribution of populations; their
patterns of change over time through births, deaths, and migration; and the determinants and
consequences of such changes. Population studies yield knowledge important for planning, particularly
by governments, in fields such as health, education, housing, social security, employment, and
environmental preservation. Such studies also provide information needed to formulate government
population policies, which seek to modify demographic trends in order to achieve economic and social
objectives. Thus, this part of the paper presents the population characteristics; population size, age and
sex composition, ethnic and religious composition, population dynamics and population projection of
Ambo town depending on the data of CSA, 1994 and 2007.

3.1.2 Population Size

The population and housing census conducted in 1994/1986 and 2007/1999 by Central Statistical
Authority are considered here to see the trend of the population size of the town under study. Ambo
town is the capital town of West Shewa Zone with population size of more than 67,514 in 2009/2001
including the population of expansion areas. According to 1994 and 2007 population and housing census
of CSA the total population of the town was 27,636 and 50,267 respectively. The latter figure is
typically that of the proper town, which is not including the figure of the expansion areas. The number
55
of Households in 1994 was 6,121 and in 2009 it becomes 15,223 and the average family size of the town
in 1994 and 2009 was 4.5 and 3.8 respectively.
Table 3.1: Population Size of Ambo Town by Age and Sex Category, 2001
Age Category Both Sexes Male Female
All Ages 67,514 34,276 33,238
0-4 7,089 3,594 3,495
5-9 8,372 4,127 4,245
10-14 9,722 4,657 5,065
15-19 10,735 5,475 5,260
20-24 7,494 3,912 3,582
25-29 6,009 2,944 3,065
30-34 3,983 2,175 1,808
35-39 3,713 1,946 1,767
40-44 2,498 1,399 1,099
45-49 1,755 1,014 741
50-54 1,553 741 812
55-59 1,013 510 503
60-64 1,080 499 581
65-69 810 399 411
70-74 675 298 377
75-79 405 237 168
80-84 338 185 153
85-89 132 81 51
90+ 138 83 55
Source: Computed based on 2007 census result considering the 1994 census age group proportion is unchanged (own
computation)

3.1.3 Sex and Age ratio

3.1.3.1 Sex Composition
Sex is one of the basic characteristics of population. Sex composition is very important for any analysis,
as data on sex provides useful information about reproductive potential, human resource, level of school
attendance by each sex, and so on. As shown in table 3.1 above, male population is slightly higher
(50.8%) than female population (49.2%) at the town level and thus the sex ratio is estimated to be 103.

56
3.1.3.2 Age Composition
Age is one the basic demographic characteristics of a population. Age data are useful for demographic
analysis and for various types of socio-economic development planning. As it is shown in the above
table the population distribution of Ambo Town by age group and sex in 2009 indicated that out of the
total population, about 37.3% of its population is less than 15 years of age, 59% in the intermediate age
group (15-64) and 3.7% above 64 years of age.

This data indicated that a significant proportion of the population was within the age group 15-64
implying a higher intermediate age group. The young dependency ratio for the town was estimated to be
63.2% meaning, of 100 persons in the working age group (15-64) had to support on the average over 63
persons whose age is between 0-14. And also, the old dependency ratio for the town was estimated to be
6.3% meaning, of 100 persons in the working age group (15-64) had to support on the average 6 persons
whose age is 65 and above.

Table 3.2: Population of by Broad Age Group, Sex and Dependency Ratio, 2001

Age Group Total Population Size % Male % Female % Dependency

Ratio
Total 67,514 100 34,276 100 33,238 100 69.5
0 -14 25,183 37.3 12,378 36.1 12,805 38.5 63.2
15 -64 39,833 59.0 20,615 60.1 19,218 57.8 -
65+ 2,498 3.7 1,283 3.8 1,215 3.7 6.3
Source: Extracted from Population and Housing Census of 1999 report

From the table 4.2, we see that the dependency ratio of both young and old age population of Ambo
town is lower than that of the tropical Africa. The burden of dependency ratio in a tropical African
Countries is from 80 to over 100 of dependents per 100 productive persons. Therefore, the overall
Dependency Ratio of Ambo town (69.5) is less than that of the tropical African countries rate indicating
relatively higher productive population of Ambo town.

3.1.4 Ethnic and Religious Composition

3.1.4.1 Ethnic Composition

57
The Population and Housing Census of 1994 revealed the fact that more than five different ethnic groups
were co-existing in Ambo town. As it is indicated on the table 3.3, among the various ethnic groups in
the town, Oromo (73.5%) constituted the large proportion of the total population. Next to Oromo,
Amhara, Guragie, Tigray Siltie, and others formed about 18.6, 3.0, 1.7, 1.6, and 1.6 percent respectively.

Table 3.3: Distribution of Population by Ethnic Group, 2001

Ethnic Total Male Female Percent
group 67,514 34,276 33,238 100
Oromo 49,623 25,196 24,427 73.5
Amhara 12,558 6,375 6,183 18.6
Gurage 2,025 1028 997 3.0
Tigray 1,148 582 566 1.7
Silte 945 479 466 1.4
Others 1,215 616 599 1.8
Source: Own computation based on the 1999 Census report

3.1.4.2 Religious Composition

The Population and Housing Census conducted in 1994 showed that, the largest proportion of the
residents of the town was a follower of Orthodox religion, which constituted 86.2% of the total
population of the town. Protestant, Muslim, traditional, Catholic, and other religions followers constitute
7.5, 3.2, 2.4, 0.4 and 0.3 percent respectively. Even though, the data for current religious composition
for Ambo town is not officially declared from the recent census, according to the information acquired
from Ambo Town Public Mobilization, Labor and Social Affairs Office: Orthodox, Protestant and
Muslim religion followers constitute about 75%, 23% and 2% respectively. Depending on and
combining the population information obtained from the above-mentioned office and religious
composition of 1994 census it is tried to compute the existing religious composition with the current
population size in the following table.

58
Table 3.4: Distribution of Population of Ambo Town by Religious Groups, 2001
Sex All Religion
persons Orthodox Protestant Muslim Traditional Catholic Others

Both sexes 67,514 49,960 14,178 1,350 1620 270 136

Male 34,276 25300 7066 752 922 170 66
Female 33,238 24660 7112 598 698 100 70

% 100 74 21 2 2.4 0.4 0.2

Source: CSA 1994 and 1999

3.1.5 Population Dynamics

The growth of the population of any given area is controlled by components of population variables:
fertility, mortality and migration. A change in size and structure of a given population arise from an
increase or decrease of fertility, mortality and migration or a combination of these components of
population variables.

3.1.5.1 Fertility
According to the results of 1994 Population and Housing Census, women aged years 20-24 and 30-34
were the most fertile and thus contributed to nearly 21.8 and 28.5 percent respectively of the total
number of births of the town. For a population that has experienced more or less constant, the fertility
rate of women should increase when the age of women advances. However, the number of children born
tends to decrease as the age advances in Ambo town, which shows that the fertility rate of the town was
vary from time to time.

Table 3.5: Ambo Age-Specific Fertility Rate ASFR and total fertility rate 1994
Age group Number of women Birth in past Age specific Percent (%)
year fertility rate
Total 7407 596 .578 100
15-19 2363 66 .028 4.8
20-24 1568 198 .126 21.8

59
 25-29 1184 106 .090 15.8
30-34 734 121 .165 28.5
35-39 738 77 .104 17.9
40-44 463 22 .048 8.3
45-49 357 6 .017 2.9
Total fertility rate 2.89
Source: CSA, 1994
As shown in the table 6.5, the total fertility rate of Ambo town was 2.89 (0.578x5). That means from
total average number of children that would be born alive to a woman during her life time, if she were to
pass through all her child bearing years is nearly three (3).

3.1.5.2 Mortality
Mortality is another component of population dynamics. The increase in mortality would result in
decrement of population size. Infant and under-five estimates along with the corresponding life
expectancies at birth for Ambo town is presented on the table 3.6. The data indicate an infant mortality
rate (i.e. the probability of dying infants between birth and one age per 1000 live birth in a given year) is
83 per thousand live births and under-five mortality rate (the probability of dying between birth and age
five per live birth) is 201 for the town. The life expectance at birth of the town was found to be 57.3
years for both sexes: 57.0 years for males and 57.6 years for females.

Table 3.6: Infant and childhood Mortality rate and Expectance of life at birth (e0o) of Ambo town
Sex Infant mortality rate Under five mortality Live expectancy
(IMR) rate
Male 87 120 57.0
Female 80 116 57.6
Both sexes 83 118 57.3
Source: CSA, 1994

Male mortality rate at infancy was greater than of females. Eventually, at their date of birth, females
expected to live longer than males. But, the childhood mortality rate of males is greater than that of
females.

60
3.1.5.3 Migration
Migration refers to spatial movement of people that involves a change of place of usual residence and
the crossing of a political boundary. It is one of the most complex basic demographic variables.
Migration can affect the growth and decline of population of the area of origin and destination. The
contribution of migration to growth can therefore be either positive or negative. Depending on the
direction of movement the event of migration can be classified into in-migration and out-migration. The
data obtained from the 1994 census report revealed that there is no information on out-ward migration.
Therefore, it is difficult to indicate the number of migrant population that has gone out of the town under
study. Due to the absence of data on outward movements the table below focuses only on in-migration.

Table 3.7: Migration Status and forms of migration of Ambo town, 1994
Sex All Migration status Area of previous residence
persons Non-migrant Migrant Not Urban Rural Not
stated stated
Both sexes 27572 11797 15649 126 7549 8086 14
Male 13316 5313 7917 86 3695 4213 9
Female 14256 6484 7731 40 3854 3875 5
Source: CSA: 1994

According to the report produced by CSA in 1994, migrants constituted about 56.8% of the total
population of Ambo town indicating the fact that more than half of the residents of the town to be
migrants from other areas. The data on area of previous residence of the migrants showed the number of
migrants from rural areas (51.7%) slightly greater than that of the urban centers (48.3%). Male migrants
constitute 50.6% that is greater than that of female migrants. To conclude, generally due to different
factors there seems to exist an increasing trend of migrants to the town.

61
3.1.6 Population Projection
As it is explained above the information of population and housing census conducted in 1994 and 2007
have been considered here to see the trend of the population size of the town under study. According to
the 1994 and 2007 population and housing census the total number of the town population is 32,951 and
59,934 respectively. The figure of both Censuses included the areas today included in the expansion
sites. In 2009 projection the total population of the town becomes 67,514.

Between 1994 and 2007 the population size of the town was growing on the average at 4.6 percent per
annual. But between 2007 and 2009 population of Ambo town growth rate increased to 5.5 percent and
its number was grown to 67,514. To project the current (2009) population size of the town to the end of
the planning period (2019) an attempt has been made to examine the growth rate of the town
experienced during 1994-2009. The growth rate observed during 1994-2007 and 2007-2009 appears to
be high (4.6% and 5.5%) when compared to the average annual growth rate of the urban population at
national level, which was 4.11% during the inter-censual period (1984-1994).

Table 3.8: Population Size of Ambo Town and its Growth Trend
Average
Year Population Size Periods Average Growth Rate
Household
1994 32,951 - 7,322 -
2007 59,934 13 15,772 4.6%
2009 67,514 2 17,777 5.5%
Source: Computed based on Census reports of 1994 and 2007
To project the population size of Ambo town to the end of the planning period, future growth rate had to
be estimated and applied to the base year (2009) population for the projection purpose. The base year
population size of the town has been estimated to be 67,514. As it is explained above the population size
of the town was annually growing at an average growth rate of 4.6% during 1994-2007. Generally, the
town exhibited an increasing rate of growth during the past two years (2007-2009). But it is expected
that the growth rate will slightly decline during the planning period as well since this is a typical
characteristics of medium towns, which is resulted from the improvement in family planning and other
basic social services.

62
Hence, three alternative growth rates are assumed under three projection variants: High variant, Medium
variant and Low variant. Under the high variant the growth rate the town experienced during 1999–2001
assumed to remain constant during the planning period. On the other hand, the observed growth rate is
assumed to decline to 4.3% and 3.2%, during the planning period, under the medium and low variant,
respectively.

Accordingly, the population size of the town is expected to grow to about 115,429 and 92,795 under the
high and low variants of the projection, respectively, while under the medium variant, which will be
used for estimation of social services and housing demand, the population size of the town is expected to
grow to around 104,112by the end of the planning period (2019). The number of Households of the
town in 2019 expected to be 27,398 and the average family size of the town also expected to be 3.8

Table 3.9: Projected Population size of Ambo Town for 2019/2011 E.C
Projection Assumed Base Year Projected Population Size by Year
Variants Growth Rates Population
2009 2014 2019
High 5.4 67,514 88,278 115,429
Medium 4.3 67,514 83,839 104,112
Low 3.2 67,514 79,152 92,795
Source: Own Computation

3.1.7 Doubling time

The doubling time of the town is the time needed for the town to double itself and can be calculated as
70 per the annual growth rate of the town.
Doubling time = 70/ Annual Growth rate.
=70/4.3%
=16.3 Years

This indicates that, nearly after 15 years the populations of Ambo town will double itself. This is a short
doubling time when compared with the doubling time of Ethiopia, which is 23 years. The small doubling
time is due to large influx of people from rural area to Ambo town due to seeking for urban job,

63
educational opportunity for that the Ambo Agricultural College is upgraded to University level,
decentralized administration system and Ambo being the capital town of the Zonal Administration.

The other factors for short doubling time is different facilities like education which attract people
especially students from other places to attend high school, preparatory education and technical
education in the town. This is especially true of the presence of different privately owned colleges that
render trainings in several fields or professions in the town. The majority of trainees are not only from
the town and the surrounding rural hinterlands rather come from other parts of Oromia. So, these have
partly increased the population of the town that would make the doubling time of Ambo town to be
shorter.

3.2 Urban Social Services

3.2.1 Introduction
Urban social facilities contain various services and establishments needed for social development and
well being of the urban society. These social services mainly include education, health, housing,
recreational facilities (green, sport, theatre, cinema, etc), worship, cemetery and public celebration
places.

Additionally, urban social services encompass social welfare programs (child welfare, youth welfare,
family welfare, women‟s welfare, Welfare of elderly people, welfare of persons with physical and
mental impairment) and social problems such as crime (crime against persons and property), juvenile
delinquency, prostitution, begging, street life, drug and alcohol abuse, lumpiness or hooliganism, etc.
The planning of social services is an important aspect of urban land use planning serve social services
determines the level of living condition of urban population.

3.2.2 Educational Services

In Ambo Town there are eleven Kindergartens, one primary first cycle school (1-4), seventeen full
primary schools (1-8), one secondary school (9-10), one Preparatory and TVET School, eight college
level educational institutions and one University. The following table indicates the distribution of
educational institutions by ownership in the year 2001 E.C.

64
Table 3.10: Distribution of schools by level and ownership, 2001
Schools Ownership
No Level Number Government Private Religious
1 KG 11 - 5 6
2 1-4 1 - - 1
3 1-8 17 11 3 3
4 9-10 1 1 - -
5 11-12 1 1 - -
6 TVET 1 1 - -
7 Colleges 8 1 7 -
8 University 1 1 - -
Total 41 16 15 10
% 100 39.0 36.6 24.4
Source: Ambo Town Administration Education Office, 2001

Concerning the ownership of the institutions 39.0%, 36.6%, and 24.4% owned by government, private
and faith based organizations respectively. The following table shows the location of educational
institutions within the town, ownership of every school and the land area covered by schools in relation
to the standard set by the Ministry of Education.

Table 3.11: The Existing Situation of Schools

No Name of school Level Owner Location Area (m2)
Ship (Genda) Existing Standard
1 Ambo Adventist KG FBO 02 500-3,000
2 Ambo Catholic KG “ 01 500-3,000
3 Future Gen. Hope KG Private 01 500-3,000
4 Hunde Guddina KG “ 01 793 500-3,000
5 Dungo KG “ ? 500-3,000
6 Kidane Mihret KG FBO 01 500-3,000
7 Ambo Birhan KG Private 02 500-3,000
8 Kale Hiwot KG FBO 01 500-3,000
65
9 N.M. Academy KG Private ? 500-3,000
10 MuluWongel KG FBO 01 500-3,000
11 Abdi Kegna KG FBO 02 500-3,000
12 Ambo Adventist 1-6 FBO 02 500-3,000
13 Ambo K. Mihret 1-8 “ 01 500-3,000
14 Future Gen. Hope 1-8 Private 01 500-3,000
15 Ambo Birhan 1-8 Private 02 500-3,000
16 Kale Hiwot 1-8 FBO 01 500-3,000
17 Hunde Guddina 1-8 Private 01 2108 500-3,000
18 Abdi Kegna 1-4 FBO 02 500-3,000
19 Ambo Elementary 1-8 Gov‟t 02 10,000 15,000-25,000
20 Addis Ketema 1-8 “ 01 625 15,000-25,000
21 Awwaro 1-8 “ 02 70,000 15,000-25,000
22 Oddo Liban 1-8 “ 03 100,000 15,000-25,000
23 Bete Kihnet 1-8 “ 02 1,500 15,000-25,000
24 Liban Macca 1-8 “ 03 ? 15,000-25,000
25 Correction Admin. 1-8 “ 01 2,280 15,000-25,000
26 Muja Elementary 1-8 “ Muja 15,000-25,000
27 Dambi Millennium 1-8 “ Oddo Liban 15,000-25,000
28 Senqale Elem. 1-8 “ Senqale 15,000-25,000
29 Gossu Elem. 1-8 “ Gossu Qora 15,000-25,000
30 Ambo High School 9-10 “ 01 13,309.9 30,000-60,000
31 Ambo Preparatory 11-12 “ 02 80,370 30,000-60,000
32 Ambo TVETI “ 02
33 Micro Business Col Private 01
34 Hayome Med. Col. “ 01
35 Biya Health Col. “ 01
36 Mogor Health Col “ 01
37 Care Med. Col. “ 02
38 Chancellor H. Col “ 02
39 Madda Walabu “ 01
40 TVET College Gov‟t 02
41 Ambo University “ 01
Source: Ambo Town Administration Education Office
66
As it is indicated in the table, though there is no full information some of the schools area coverage is
below the standard and some of them have large compounds that may be above the standard. Thus, all
the mentioned conditions should be given due consideration of planning intervention. To mention some
of the planning options, upgrading or promoting schools to the next level (Example, Awwaro and Oddo
Liban Elementary Schools) and if possible adding land to the existing land area (Example Ambo High
School, Ambo Elementary, Addis Ketema and Bete Kihnet).

In order to mitigate the existing shortage of schools and student overcrowding in classes, current
backlogs and future demands are analyzed based on the standards of level, requirement and location of
educational services.

67
Table 3.12: Trends of Enrolment and participation rate of Students by school Levels and Year 1997-2001 E.C.
School Cycle 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
M F T M F T M F T M F T M F T
Kindergarten 418 417 835 383 414 797 660 633 1293 606 599 1205 686 651 1337
% 50.1 49.9 100 48.1 51.9 100 51.0 49.0 100 50.3 49.7 100 51.3 48.7 100
1-4 2696 2746 5442 2919 2998 5917 2370 2657 5027 2494 2756 5250 2431 2663 5094
% 49.5 50.5 100 49.3 50.7 100 47.1 52.9 100 47.5 52.5 100 47.7 52.3 100
5-8 2520 2448 4968 2744 2555 5299 2282 2394 4676 2525 2714 5239 2405 2875 5280
% 50.7 49.3 100 51.8 48.2 100 48.8 51.2 100 48.2 51.8 100 45.5 54.5 100
9-10 2017 1355 3372 2370 1481 3851 2550 1604 4154 2654 1672 4326 2751 1871 4622
% 59.8 40.2 100 61.5 38.5 100 61.4 38.6 100 61.3 38.7 100 59.5 40.5 100
11-12 957 268 1225 883 316 1199 750 383 1133 700 349 1049 748 222 970
% 78.1 21.9 100 73.6 26.4 100 66.2 33.8 100 66.7 33.3 100 77.1 22.9 100
TVET 192 644 836 563 837 1400 329 427 756
23.0 77.0 100 40.2 59.8 100 43.5 56.5 100
Source: Ambo Town Administration Education Office, 2001

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As indicated in the above table, the trend of enrolment of students is irregular. Though, the enrolment
rate was not tend to increase regularly, there is a gap between the educational service coverage and the
number of school age population. Accordingly, the school age population separating by school level
indicated as follows:

Ages 5-6 (KG age) total number of population is 4,861 school attending is 1,337 the difference 3,524 is
out of school, ages 7-10 (1st cycle age) total number of population is 9,385 school attending pupil 5,094
the difference 4,291 is out of school, ages 11-14 (2nd cycle age) total number of population is 6,617 and
school attending pupil 5,280 the difference 1,337 is out of school, ages 15-16 (High school age) total
number of population is 3,568, school attending 4,622 the difference 1,054 is more than the number of
existing urban school age population. Thus, it assumed that most of these people are coming from the
nearby hinterland to attend secondary education. And ages 17 and 18 (preparatory and TVET age) total
population is 3,308 school attending students 1,726 the difference is 1,582 that considered as out of
school population. Generally these figures indicate that there is a gap between educational need and
access to it.

Concerning participation rate at primary schools by sex, the above table indicates, in 1997 male and
female participation rate was 50.1% and 49.9%, in 1998 participation rate was 50.5% and 49.5%, in
1999 participation rate was 47.9% and 52.1%, in 2000 it went to be 47.9% and 52.1%.

Similarly, participation rate at every level in 2001 E.C indicates, at KG male and female students are
51.3% and 48.7%, at primary school 46.6% and 53.4%, at high school 59.5% and 40.5%, at preparatory
level 77.1% and 22.9% respectively. Here the participation rate of female students at the high school is
lower than that of the male counterparts. Especially this rate is very low at the Preparatory level that
implies female students may fail to pass national examination at grade 10. Therefore, the concerned
bodies and the public at large should badly work towards the maximization of female participation rate
at the mentioned level of education for the benefit of the whole community.

When the issue comes to the efficiency of educational services of the town, dealing with dropout and
repetition rate is crucial.

69
Table 3.13: Trends in Repetition Rate of Primary and Secondary Schools for the Last Five Years
in Ambo Town
Year Enrolled Dropout Number of Existing Repeaters Rate of Remark
Students Repetition
1996* 14,986 1,114 13,872
1997 14,580 782 13,798 1689 12.2
1998 15,656 1,526 14,497 557 3.8
1999 15,437 1,159 14278 201 1.4
2000 15,864 2,221 13,643 1317 9.7
Source: Compiled from data collected from Ambo Town Education Office *Data for repeaters is not
available
Complete data for repetition rate of the last five years except of 1996 reveals that 12.2%, 3.8%, 1.4%
and 9.7% for the years of 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 respectively, though the rate is irregular it was
high for the years 1997 and 2000. The major contributing factors for this repetition rate were: large
student-school ratio, large student-classroom ratio, lack of qualified teachers in all educational levels
and in all subjects, the students purposely repeat classes to improve their class achievements, etc.

Table 3.14: Trends in Dropout Rate of Students for the Last Five Years in Ambo Town

Year Enrolled Number of Dropout Rate of Dropouts Remark

1996 14,986 1,114 7.3
1997 14,580 782 5.4
1998 15,656 1,526 9.7
1999 15,437 1,159 7.5
2000 15,864 2,221 14.0
Source: Compiled from data collected from Ambo Town Education Office

The dropout rate for the years 1996-2000 was 7.3%, 5.4%, and 9.7%, 7.5% and 14.0% respectively. As
it is indicated in the figure, the dropout rate is increasing and it is high which significantly affect the
efficient utilization of resources in every level of educational services of Ambo town for the last five
years. The following are identified as contributing factors for the dropout of students;
 Family economic problems (unable to pay school fee),
 Social problems of family (divorce, separation, etc.),
 Health problems of both students and their families,
 Forced to help their families,

70
  Distance of schools from students‟ localities

The student to school ratio at KG, Elementary (first cycle and second cycle), High School, Preparatory
School and TVET computed as 1:122, 1:1,482, 1:4,622, 1:970 and 756 respectively. Even if there are
students over the standard serving capacity of Ambo schools, the highest overcrowding of students per
school is observed in High schools (9-10) where it exceeds by 3,822 and Preparatory school exceeds by
170 that of the maximum standard number of students set for High and Preparatory schools. The
Maximum standard student to school ratio set by Ministry of Education for primary level is up to 1600
and for high school level is up to 800. When we observe the student to school ratio in the primary
schools by singling out, especially in the government owned primary schools the ratio is above the
standard set by the Ministry of Education,

Table 3.15: Teachers Qualification, Student -Teacher and Student-Classroom Ratios, 2001
School No. of No. of Student - Teacher No of Student – Classroom
Cycle Students Qualified Existing Standard Gap Class- Existing Standard Gap
Teachers rooms
KG 1337 47 1:29 1:40 -11 36 1:37 1:40 -3
1-4 5094 103 1:50 1:40 +10 85 1:60 1:40 +20
5-8 5280 146 1:36 1:40-50 -14 89 1:59 1:50 +9
9-10 4622 82 1:57 1:40-50 +7 66 1:70 1:40 +30
11-12 970 49 1:20 1:40-50 -30 18 1:54 1:40 +14
TVET 756 33 1:23 - - ? - - -
Source: Ambo Town Administration Education Office, 2001

From the above table, one can conclude that with respect to student-teacher ratio, there is unfair
distribution of qualified teachers in all levels in Ambo town when compared with the minimum level of
qualification set by the Ministry of Education, i.e., KG certificate for KG, TTI certificate for 1-4,
diploma for 5-8 and degree for cycles from 9-10 and above. The maximum gap between the standard
and the existing situation of qualified teachers and student‟s ratio is 10 and 7 in 1-4 school cycle and at
9-10 while there is high (30) concentration of qualified teachers at Preparatory school in relation to
other cycles. The concentration of qualified teachers at KG, elementary 2nd cycle is also high which is
the concentration level is 11and 14 respectively. But at every cycle of educational institutions some

71
teachers assigned regardless of their qualification because of shortage of qualified teachers. For
example, teachers those non TTI certificate holders are teaching at elementary 1st cycle, non diploma
holders are assigned at 5-8 cycles and diploma holders are teaching at 9-10 and even at the preparatory
level of education. This assignment of non-qualified teachers at every level is one of the factors that
contributed for the repetition rate.

It is also possible to learn from the same table about the student-section ratio of the town at different
cycles. Accordingly, there is a maximum of 30 gaps between the existing student–classroom ratio and
the standard set by the Ministry of Education. This maximum gap is observed at 9-10 school cycle.
Similar condition is observed at 1-4, 5-8 and 11-12, which the gap is 20, 9 and 14 respectively.
Generally, the overall situation of the student-classroom ratio of the schools in the town reveals that
there are more students than the available classrooms. This trend created unfavorable condition for
teachers to make more contacts with their students. The problem originated because some students come
from other areas or hinterlands to acquire better educational services and concerning the High School
there are so many feeder schools that send too many students to the single high school. But this
condition created big problem on teaching learning processes that this high school can‟t hold all students
that should be learn in the school. Because of the narrowness and over capacity of the school the tenth
grade students attend their education in the compound of the preparatory school that is far away from the
so-called high school.

The other problem observed in the town is that the preparatory school and TVET are situated within the
same compound, which created incompatible condition on the learning teaching process. Therefore, the
existing condition itself demands construction of additional schools at different parts of the town and
extra classrooms in the existing schools to assure delivery of qualified education in the town. In this
concern for the planning period (till 2019) there will be a need of 31 KGs, 6 High Schools, 1 Preparatory
and 1 TVET additional schools will be required to meet the educational need of the town.

Concerning the facilities and physical conditions of schools in the town, some schools are relatively at
good condition in terms of physical condition; some schools need maintenance since they are in
deteriorating physical condition. Furthermore, almost in all schools there is lack of facilities such as
laboratory, libraries, pedagogical centers, text and reference books, sport fields, etc.

72
3.2.3 Health Services
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health is not only reflected by the sole defect of
being affected by disease or physical abnormality, but it includes the physical, mental, psychological
and social well-being of human person which is satisfied by its wants. The health status of a society is
mainly affected by environmental condition, personal hygiene, nutritional value, shelter, etc. and
similarly the health status of a society affects its welfare and the productivity capacity. Thus, in dealing
with social development issues of Ambo town considering the situation of health services and health
facility is very important. The main things to be discussed in relation to health services include:
 The existing number and type of health institutions,
 Population - health institution ratio,
 Population - health personnel ratio,
 Population - bed ratio,
 Facilities and physical condition of health institutions,
 Health problems causing mortality and morbidity
The best indicators of quality of health services are population to health institution ratio, population to
health professional ratio, population to bed ratio and the physical condition of health institutions. The
following table discloses the existing health institutions by number, type of ownership, population per
health institution and population bed ratio.

73
 Health

Health Institution Institution/Pop Bed/pop

by ownership

Population
of
Institution

Standard

Standard
Existing

Existing
Private
Gov’t

NGO

Total
Type

Gap

Gap
Bed
No

1 Hospital >2.5 Mill. 1 - - 1 1: >2.5 Million 1:250,000-1,000,000 - 103 1: 24,272 1:3000

2 Health Center 67,514 1 - - 1 1: 67,514 1: 25,000 2 7 1: 9,645 1:3000 3
3 Health Post 67,514 2 - - 2 1: 33,757 1:5,000-7,000 7 - - - -
4 Clinic 1 1 14 16 - 1: 10000 - - - - -
5 Pharmacy and 1 - 6 7 - - - - - - -
Drug Store

6 Drug Vendor - 1 - 1 - - - - - - -

Total 6 2 20 28

Table 3.16: Distribution of Health Institutions by type, ownership and bed with their respective ratios in Ambo town, 2001
Source: Ambo Town Administration Health Office, 2001

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As it is indicated in the above table, there are totally 28 health institutions. Among these institutions 6 of
them owned by government, 2 by nongovernmental organization, and 20 privately owned. The hospital
is owned by the Government serves the major portion of West Shewa Zone, some parts of Horro Guduru
Wallaga and South West Shewa Zones.

The standard set by the Ministry of Health recommends one hospital for every 250,000-1,000,000
People. Ambo Hospital is serving more than 2,500,000 people till now. The standard allows one health
center to serve 25,000. While, in Ambo town one health center is serving more than 67,514 people,
including the people from neighboring peasant associations and the surrounding towns. Thus the gap is
about two health centers. This means even with the existing population two additional health centers are
needed. Concerning the bed to population of the health center, one bed is to 9,645 people while the
standard is 1:3,000 and hence the gap is 3 additional beds in Health Center and 730 additional beds at
the Hospital.

When the point comes to health posts, currently there are two health posts in the town. According to the
standard one health post serves about 5,000-7,000 people. With the existing urban population of Ambo
town there is a gap of about seven health posts taking the expansion areas into consideration. The town
administration has a plan of constructing one type B health center at Ganda Awwaro. This is expected to
solve the shortage of health coverage or may maximize health services of the town since the health
coverage is estimated to be 95% in 2001 E.C.

Table 3.17: Health Professionals per Population

No Types of Health Number of Population in the Professional/population
professionals Professionals catchments Existing Standard Gap

1 Doctor 9 2,500,000 1:277,778 1:10,000 241

2 Health officer 14 2,500,000 1:178,572 -
3 Senior Nurse 79 2,500,000 1:31,646 1:5,000
4 Junior Nurse 8 2,500,000 1:312,500 -
5 Health Assistant 3 2,500,000 1:833,333 -
6 Lab-Technician 9 2,500,000 1:277,778 -
7 Pharmacist Druggist 11 2,500,000 1:227,273 -

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8 Sanitarian 4 2,500,000 1:625,000 -
9 X-Ray Technician 4 2,500,000 1:625,000
10 Health Promotion 1 67,514 1:67,514
11 Primary Health Care 3 67,514 1:22,505 -
Source: Ambo Hospital and Ambo Town Health Office, 2001

According to the standard set by the Ministry of Health one doctor is expected to serve 10,000 people
and a nurse is for 5,000 people. However, at the town there are about 9 doctors that serve about
2,500,000 people. In this case there is a gap of 200-240 doctors and generally there is critical problem
concerning the health professionals.

Another important indicator for the quality of health services is the physical condition of health
institutions. There is only one hospital in the town that constructed for another purposes during the
Italian occupation. The main part of the hospital became old and physically deteriorated; every room in
a medical ward has shortage of latrine and pipeline due to the very nature of the hospital construction.
That by itself is another problem for the health of the patients; it has no adequate ventilation for that
matter the customers can be easily affected by different communicable diseases. Concerning the health
center, its physical condition is good and its internal facilities are better. But the MCH (mother and child
health) clinic which runs by the Health Office serve in better condition while its building is deteriorated
and should be rebuilt and upgraded and its internal facilities should be fulfilled.

There are different health problems that cause mortality and morbidity in Ambo town and its
surroundings. To have a clear understanding about the overall health problems of the town, trends of the
ten top diseases of the past four/five years of Ambo Health Center and Ambo Hospital are separately
dealt with as there is difference in the level of the service provided by the Health Center and the
Hospital identified in the following tables.

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 Table 3.18: Ten Top Diseases of the Town from Ambo Health Center
No 1997 1998 1999 2000
Type of Disease Number % Type of Disease Number % Type of Disease Number % Type of Disease Number %
1 Gastritis 1636 12.6 Helminthes UTI Helminthes 539 24.2
2 Diarrhea 1576 12.1 Diarrhea Helminthes UTI 357 16.0
3 Helminthes 1519 11.7 Gastritis Tonsillitis Tonsillitis 274 12.3
4 URTI 1492 11.5 URTI Gastritis Pneumonia 254 11.4
5 Eye Disease 1351 10.4 Eye Disease Skin Disease Gastritis 200 9.0
6 Typhoid 1316 10.1 Rheumatics Rheumatics Typhoid 187 8.4
7 Rheumatics 1177 9.1 UTI Amoebas Rheumatics 144 6.5
8 Tonsillitis 1169 9.0 Malaria Strongloides Skin Disease 141 6.3
9 Skin Disease 891 6.9 Skin Disease Malaria Amoebas 69 3.1
10 Malaria 846 6.5 Tonsillitis Eye Disease Malaria 62 2.8
Total 12973 100 2227 100
Source: Ambo Town Administration Health Office, 2001

Table 3.19: Ten Top Diseases of the Town from Ambo Hospital
No 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Diagnosis No. % Diagnosis No. % Diagnosis No. % Diagnosis No. % Diagnosis No. %
1 Injury 4555 26.3 Injury 3864 21.0 Injury 4604 24.8 Injury 3648 21.0 Injury 2772 23.2
2 URTI 2344 13.6 URTI 2888 15.7 URTI 2467 13.3 Helminthes 3554 20.5 Helminthes 1642 13.8
3 Helminthes 2031 11.7 Adenoids 2244 12.2 Helminthes 2226 12.0 URTI 3213 18.5 URTI 1514 12.7
4 Bronco 1697 9.8 Helminthes 1906 10.4 Adenoids 2097 11.3 Tuberculosis 1836 10.6 Tonsillitis 1507 12.6
pneumonia
5 Genito-urinary 1456 8.4 Rheumatics 1478 8.0 Tuberculosis 1524 8.2 Adenoids 1508 8.7 Tuberculosis 895 7.5
6 Malaria 1290 7.5 Genito-urinary 1690 9.2 Genito-urinary 1318 7.1 Genito-urinary 1506 8.7 Rheumatics 685 5.7
7 Rheumatics 1088 6.3 Bronco 1372 7.5 Rheumatics 1180 6.2 Rheumatics 638 3.7 Bronco 884 7.4
pneumonia pneumonia
8 All Others 1046 6.1 Malaria 1189 6.5 Bronco 1109 6.0 Tonsillitis 605 3.5 All Others 650 5.4
pneumonia

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9 Tonsillitis 991 5.7 All Others 924 5.1 All Others 1095 5.9 All Others 448 2.6 Adenoids 821 6.9
10 Tuberculosis 797 4.6 Tuberculosis 816 4.4 Tonsillitis 969 5.2 Bronco 386 2.2 Genito-urinary 571 4.8
pneumonia
Total 17295 100 18371 100 18589 100 17342 100 11941 100
Source: Ambo Hospital, 2001

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As indicated in the above tables, injury (23.3%) has been the top health problem of the town for the last
five years. This problem mostly created due to fighting and different incidence such as car accidents and
the like. URTI (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, 14.7%) has been the second health problem of the
town for the same years. The major cause for the problem is lack of personal and environmental
sanitation. The town is exposed to lack of or improper usage of latrine and bathing services, lack of
clean water, malnutrition, overcrowded household, etc. Helminthes (13.7%), Adenoids (9.8%), Genito-
Urinary (7.6%), Tuberculosis (7.1%), Malaria (7.0%), Tonsillitis (6.8%), Bronco pneumonia (6.6%) and
Rheumatics (6.0%) stood from third to tenth stages.

Most of these health problems caused by malnutrition, lack of knowledge of consumption of balanced
diet, lack of personal and environmental sanitation, etc. The sanitation problem is manifested due to lack
of toilet and bathing facilities because the 1994 Population and Housing Census pointed out that most of
the housing units (42.4% and 95.2%) had no these facilities.
The situation of these health problems may demand the concerned bodies react against improving the
living condition of the dwellers of the town by implementing health service programs for the effective
prevention and control of communicable diseases, improving and providing health education and
information system, building the capacity of health institutions by equipping with necessary logistics
and manpower, constructing public toilets and bathing facilities at different parts of the town, ensuring
full community participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of health care programs,
promoting inter-sector collaboration (the public, private, NGO, FBO, etc.), establishing health clubs in
different schools, supply of safe drinking water and environmental protection, etc.

It is clear that currently HIV/AIDS is not only health problem but also a social and economic problem.
To look on the situation of HIV/AIDS in Ambo town, the trends of HIV positive persons for the last four
years is taken into account.

Table 3.20: Trend of HIV/AIDS Positive Persons in Ambo Town

Year No. of Visited Persons No. of Positive Persons
Male Female Total Male % Female % Total %
1998 179 129 308 11 47.8 12 52.2 23 7.5
1999 5412 3210 8622 190 42.4 258 57.6 448 5.2

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2000 7100 5319 12419 199 39.2 309 60.8 508 4.1
2001* 1311 1729 3040 33 29.5 79 70.5 112 3.7
Total 14002 10387 24389 433 39.7 658 60.3 1091 4.5
Source: Ambo Hospital and Ambo Town Administration Health Office, 2001

*Data for the indicated year include only until 25/06/2001 E.C
From the above table we can learn that the trend of HIV/AIDS seems decreasing from the year 1998 to
2001 i.e. 7.5%, 5.2%, 4.1% and 3.7% respectively, In general, according to the data obtained from
Ambo Town Health Office and Ambo Hospital, the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the town during the
last four years is 4.5%. This rate is considerably less than that of the national prevalence rate for urban
centers, which is 12.6%. The figure shows that more number of females infected than their male
counterparts that is 60.3% and 39.7% respectively.
The identified HIV/AIDS risk behaviors in the town are lack of awareness (unsafe sexual practices),
consuming excess alcohol, drug addiction (chat chewing and consuming shisha), rape, etc. The presence
of commercial sex workers, stigma and discrimination, unemployment, etc. contributed to the expansion
of HIV/AIDS in the town.

As it is indicated earlier, HIV/AIDS is creating heavy burden on the life of human being by effecting
increased social, economic, cultural and psychological problems. The number of orphaned children
increase, long social support for the patients, affect the working labor force, sustains stigma and
discrimination, etc. To mitigate HIV/AIDS related problems some intervention programs such as
counseling and testing and provision of the following services undergone by government:

-IGA (Income Generating Activities) for 20 PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS),
-IGA for 20 Commercial sex workers,
-IGA for 13 OVC (Orphans and Vulnerable Children)
It is possible to prevent and control HIV/AIDS through the available potentials, such as; Religious
institutions (Churches, Mosques, Ritual Ceremonies, etc.), Mini-Media of schools, Community based
organizations (Afooshaas), NGOs, Public gatherings, Health institutions at different levels, etc.

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3.2.4 Housing Services
According to the Population and Housing Census conducted in 1994 by the central statistical Authority
(CSA), there were 5,802 housing units and 6,121 households in Ambo town. The ratio of the total
number of the households to the housing unit is calculated to be 1.05 indicating the average number of
households per 100 housing unit to be 105. In other words, for every 100 households there were on
average about 95 housing units.

On the other hand the information gathered from the Report of the 2007 Population and Housing Census
and all Gandas indicated that there are 8,185 housing units and 17,767 households (67,514 total
populations and 3.8 average household numbers) in the town in 2009. Similarly, the ratio of the total
number of households to the housing unit is calculated to be almost 2.2 indicating the average number of
households per 100 housing unit to be 220, this figure reveals that there is a big gap between the existing
houses and the need for it. The difference between the need and the existing is amounted to 9,582. The
existing residential housing service in Ambo town may be categorized in to government (Municipality
administered and genda houses), the privately owned houses and very insignificant amount of FBOs and
NGOs. The following table shows housing service by type of ownership in the town.
Table 3.21: Housing units by Ownership, 2001
No Ownership Ganda (Localities)
01 02 03 Total
1 Private 2398 2470 1037 5905
2 Government
2.1 Genda 600 649 899 2148
2.2 Municipal 50 - - 50
3 NGO 5 8 1 14
4 FBO 10 17 2 29
5 Others - 39 - 39
Total 3063 3183 1939 8185
Source: Data Collected From All Gandas and Municipal Administration

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As it is shown above the private (5905), Government (2198), NGO (14), FBO (29) and others (39)
owned houses consist about 72.1%, 26.8%, 0.2% 0.4% and 0.5% respectively. The Government owned
houses further divided into Genda (97.7%) and Municipal (2.3%) administered houses.

Table 3.22: Housing units by Purpose

No Purpose Ganda (Localities)
01 02 03 Total
1 Residential 2878 2053 1639 6570
2 Commercial 129 417 55 601
3 Mixed Use 9 649 239 897
4 Government Office 30 28 3 61
5 NGO Office 5 8 1 14
6 Faith Organization 10 17 2 29
7 Industry 2 - - 2
8 Others - 11 - 11
Total 3063 3183 1939 8185
Source: Data Collected from All Gandas of the town Administration

As it is indicated in the above table out of the total housing units (8,185) functionally the residential
houses accounts to 80.3%, mixed use (residential and commerce) 10.9%, pure commercial 7.3%,
Government offices 0.7%, NGO offices 0.2%, Faith Based Organizations 0.3%, industry 0.1% and
others 0.2%. Concerning the physical condition of housing units in the town, 25.5% are considered as
having good status. The remaining categorized as having fair and poor condition. The following table
shows the housing condition of Ambo town.

Table 3.23: Housing Conditions

House Conditions Number by Ganda Percentage Remark
01 02 03 Total
Good 1000 1011 76 2084 25.5
Fair 1463 1000 842 3305 40.4

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Bad 600 1172 1021 2793 34.1
Total 3063 3183 1939 8182 100
Source: Data Collected from All Gandas of the town

According to the CSA census of 1994, about 73.7%, 7.7%, 11.4% and 2.9% of the houses in the town
are built from mud, wood tiles, cement /concrete and cement brick tiles respectively. As the figure
indicates most of the houses 73.7% built from mud. Thus, most of the houses especially the Genda
owned houses are very old and deteriorating because the houses were constructed from mud and had no
maintenance since their establishment. Due to the mentioned factors large number of houses needs to be
replaced.

The same census revealed that about 42.4% and 52.7% of the housing unit had no toilet and with poor
pit facility respectively and 95.2% of the housing unit had no bathing facility. The widely observed
health problems of the town are emanated from lack of these facilities. Thus there is a need of proposal
of public toilets and bathing facilities.

One of the encouraging development concerning dwelling houses is that the Oromia Housing
Development Agency is constructing a condominium of 849 housing units that comprises 814 dwelling
houses and 35 shops (549 housing units in 1999 and 300 housing units in 2000 budget periods), which is
expected to reduce housing problems of the town.

Regarding the households 17,777 in 2009 is expected to grow to around 27,398 households by the end
of the planning period (2019). With the existing 17,777 households the housing units are 9,034 and there
was a backlog of 8,743 housing units. By the end of the planning period about 9,621 new households
will be formed and this indicates totally the need for about 21,157 additional housing units during the
study period. For the planning period (2019) there will be a need of (27,398 households + 2,793 housing
units that should be replaced/ – /8,185 existing housing unit + 849 Condominium houses) =21,157
housing units (2,116 housing units per year) assuming a one to one correspondence between households
and housing units.

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3.2.5 Sport and Recreational Facilities
Prior to discussing the existing situation of recreational facilities of Ambo town, it seems important to
raise the concept of sports, play fields and stadium, theatre-cinema-community center and green areas.
Recreation facilities encompass open and developed facilities. They vary from one locality to the other
depending on the mode of life of the society, its culture and history. In our country‟s context, the
following are the main recreation facilities: sport, theatre- cinema-community center and green areas.

Sport: There are several types of sport facilities depending on the culture climate and practice of each
country or society. They have common feature; they need space. The space requirement is related to the
size of facilities, parking need and other requirements related to the building type. The standard size of
the facilities (not the plot) is given in the table below.

Type Size Maximum Size Minimum Size standard

(M by M) (M by M) (M by M)
Football 120mx90m 90mx45m 105mx70m
Basketball 28mx15m 24mx13m 26mx14m
Volleyball - - 18mx9m
Rugby - - 100mx69m
Hockey 91mx55m 91mx55m 91mx55m
Golf 20-30ha (9 holes) 50-75ha (18holes)
Ground tennis - - 2377mx10.97m
Gymnasium 21.6mx43.2mx7.5m 14.4mx14.4mx6m -
Swimming pool 25mx50mx1.8m 15mx25mx1.8m -
Table 3.24: Standard Size of Sport Facilities
Source: Ministry of Youth and Sport Affairs

The population size of most of the above facilities, except football, varies depending on the demand of
the services, number of players, spectators. This is because of either their level of affordability or their
popularity. Play Fields and Stadium: Play ground, field and lots are very indispensable for neighborhood
life since they allow diversified sport activities and plays. They are also the most frequented and easily
affordable sport activities in the town of low-income countries. Planning should respond for this popular

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demand. The location of neighborhood playfield and lots should be at the center of the neighborhood,
not adjacent to the collector roads for protection against car accident.

Table 3.25: Standard of Play Ground Facilities

Type Space Catchments area Population
requirement
Neighborhood play lot 0.1-0.2ha 120m radius 1250-1750
Neighborhood play ground 0.3-0.4eha 400m radius 5000-7750
Neighborhood play field 2.6ha Genda level 5000-10,000
District play field 10ha Distinct level 60,000-120,000
Zonal stadium 11.5ha Zonal level 300,000-600,000
Regional or city level stadium 16ha City or Region
International stadium Olympic sport complex 600-810ha National/International
Source: Ministry of Youth and Sport
Planning of stadium should consider location and direction. The axis of the stadium should be in North-
South direction. Inclination in NE-SW direction is also possible and sometimes preferable to protect the
viewers from the sun. The location of stadium can be at the peripheral areas of the urban centers but
with walking distance accessibility from mass transport.

Theatre-Cinema-Community center: The area needed for the theatre, cinema and comity center
depends on the number of seats. The planning of these facilities should take into account the size of the
hall and parking as well as other specification of architectural design.
The floor area requirement for theatre, cinema, concert hall and community center is 0.5m 2 per person.
In case of dance hall, the floor area should be 0.55m2 per person.The location of these facilities should
follow centralities (CBD and sub centers) to ensure fair distribution and accessibility. They should be
located at nearby distance from mass transport.

Green Areas: Green Arecas include parks, zoo, golf, botanic gardens, and pedestrian ways and flood
prone greens. They can be classified with formal and informal greens. The formal greens are parks and
open spaces with specific function and treatment. Informal greens are non-developed greens such as
trees, Wetland greens and flood plain areas. Bearing these in mind, it is very important to assess the
existing situation of recreational facilities in Ambo town. In the town there are:

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 o One Stadium, which is administered by the zonal Youth and Sport Office
o One play ground in genda 01
o No sport field (Volleyball, Basketball, Handball fields)
o Two Public Libraries in genda 01 but have no sufficient books.
o No Zoo
o No cultural Center
o No Cinema or Theatre Center
o No Festival ground
o No Gymnasium
o No Youth Centers
Regarding recreational facilities such as playgrounds and sport fields, there are no formally organized
facilities, especially most people in general and the youth in particular forced to engage in unnecessary
actions, which affect the life and living condition of not only the parties involved in but also the society
at large. It is a bare fact that recreational facilities can contribute a positive factor in creating good
citizens and competitive labor force.
Therefore, the existing stadium should be upgraded to Regional level stadium, in every neighborhood
playgrounds and sport fields, one Oromo Cultural Center, Parks and or Zoo, Youth Centers at every
Genda should be included in the ongoing plan preparation based on the standard indicated above.

3.2.6 Worship Places and Cemeteries

According to the 1994 Population and Housing Census by the Central Statistical Authority there were
five major religions in Ambo town. They were Orthodox, Protestant, Muslim, Catholic and Traditional.
It is evident that both the former and the recently conducted surveys confirmed that Orthodox is the
dominant religion of the town and Protestant is the second.

Worship Places: Concerning the worship places:

 Orthodox has five churches, namely,
 St. Iyasus located in genda 01
 St. Kidane Mihret located in Genda 01

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  St. Mika‟el located at Genda Awwaro
 St. Abbo located at genda 02
 St. Balewald located at Genda Sanqalle
 Muslims have one mosque that is found in genda 03
All the sects of protestant (Mulu Wengel, Mekane Yesus, Birhane Kiristos, Kale Hiwot, Meserete
Kiristos, Amanuel Hibret, Hawariat and Jova Witness) have their own worship places. The Catholic
followers also have their worship place at Genda 01, but Waqeffatas do not have legally recognized
worship places.

Cemetery: Orthodox Church has three cemeteries at St. Jesus, St. Michael and St. St. Balewald
churches. All cemeteries have sufficient places for current and future burial purposes. Muslims have one
cemetery in genda 03. The Protestant followers have three cemeteries, which accommodate all
denominations of the protestant followers. The waqeffatas do not have any cemetery places. This lack of
cemetery places forces Oromos to quit their indigenous religion and to follow those that have proper
cemetery. It is important to propose either a separate cemetery place or enable them to use the one,
which would be administered by the town administration. There is also no municipal cemetery for other
religious groups, individuals who don‟t belong to any religious groups and persons who have no
relatives and those passed away in health institutions.

Therefore, a cemetery that should be administered by the town administration must be proposed to
relieve the problem faces the health institutions and individuals that don‟t belong to any religious
groups.

3.3 Social Welfare Services and Social Problems

3.3.1 Social Welfare Services
Social Welfare refers to all activities being undertaken by a community with a view to facilitating the
social and economic conditions that are conducive to a healthy life and a sustainable development as
well as to activities designed to meet the common needs of a society or to solve its problems.
The main objective of social welfare services;
1 Expand participatory development programs and services in order to deter the people from
exposure of different social problems by upgrading economic growth and development,

87
 2 Study the causes of social problems and develop preventive measures by the participation of the
general public,
3 Rehabilitate members of society who are already suffering from various social problems and
require special treatment and attention
4 The segments of society whose social welfare is a priority concern are children particularly those
in especially difficult circumstances, youth, the family, women particularly those suffering from
severe economic and social deprivation, the elderly particularly those without support, persons
with physical and mental disabilities and those who are victims of various social problems
5 To put these aims into practice (the effective implementation of social welfare programs) the
participation of communities, civil societies, non-governmental organizations, religious
organizations and private sector is vital.
Thus, the following organizations engaged in alleviation of some social and economic problems of
persons in especial difficulties.

Table 3.26: Social Welfare Services Rendered by Different Organizations

No Organization Type of No. Of Beneficiaries
n
Org Services Rendered Male Female Total
1 Debre Iyesus CBO Funeral and several Social Services 520 337 857
2 Kidane Mihret CBO “ 521 295 816
3 Bale Egzaber CBO “ 548 444 992
4 Liben Macca CBO “ 465 285 750
5 Kara Bahaa CBO “ 803 267 1070
6 Qettero CBO “ 203 66 269
7 Gabri‟eli Safara Wallagga CBO “ 299 101 400
8 Qidus Rufa‟el CBO “ 64 14 78
9 Almaz Ashine NGO Basic necessity 150
10 Biruh Zemen NGO
11 RCS (Red Cross NGO -Ambulance service, Primary health care,
Society) Primary health care training, Health care

12 SOS Infants - Ethiopia NGO

13 Ambo Mulu Wongel FBO Social, economic and physical development 79 71 150
(Education, health, moral and ethical development) for
children

14 Ambo Mekane Yesus FBO “ 87 105 292

15 Ambo Meserete Kiristos FBO “
16 Ambo Birhane Kiristos FBO “ 94 150 244
17 Ambo Qale Hiwot FBO “ 75 89 164
Source: Ambo Municipal Administration Social Affairs Office, 2001

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The above table indicates that the organizations mentioned contributed a lot to relieve the segment of
society that exposed to different social and economic problems. These people are children those lost
their families (either one or both families) due to HIV/AIDS, those exposed to abject poverty, women
trapped by different social problems, people living with HIV/AIDS, etc. This support somehow helps
people to stay at home, regardless of pushed out of their homes in search of the same support. But as the
problem rises, the current support is not enough that much to sustain the life of all vulnerable groups to
the end. It is true that there are persons that categorized as disadvantaged groups of people and should
be given due attention in alleviating their problems. The following table shows the figure of these
groups.

Table 3.27: Distribution of Disadvantaged Groups

No Disadvantaged Groups Sex
Male Female Total
1 Disabled persons 57 66 123
3 Orphan children 318
4 Unemployed people 609 803 1412
5 Others 172 505 677
Source: Ambo Municipal social Affairs office, 2001

The proportion of male and female persons with disabilities accounts for about 46.3% and 53.7%.
Concerning unemployment, male and female unemployed people also accounts for about 43.3% and
56.7% respectively. The figure depicts that there are more unemployed females in the town than the
male counterparts. The problem urge or need urgent intervention to solve this problem by using different
mechanisms such as engaging this group of people in several income generating activities. It is possible,
especially training the unemployed women in handicrafts, food preparation, etc. The information
gathered from Ambo town Women Affairs Office indicates women organized in different associations at
different stages that to fight several problems they confront and be able to protect their rights
communally. To enable the women of the town self-sufficient and self-reliant concerned organizations
should cooperate with their associations by providing credit facilities, by creating accessibility to
training, access to land of work place, access to better rental housing, etc. The ongoing structural plan

89
preparation should give due attention by allocating appropriate land for multi faceted training center
construction thereby to enable them engage in different income generating activities.

4.3.2 Social Problems

The purpose of social problems analysis is to assess the types (nature) of social problems in a town, their
prevalence and the overall situations of the groups of population who are marginalized (disadvantaged
by the existing problems and to give recommendations on how these problems could be alleviated.
When dealing with social problems one should be able to identify the major types of social problems
which are created by the existing urban livings and affect the life of the urban residents and those
segments of the society whose living conditions are highly affected by or vulnerable to the existing
social problems in the city.

The major problems subsumed under social problems are prostitution, lumpiness (hooliganism),
begging, drug and alcohol abuse, street life, crime against persons and properties, juvenile delinquency,
etc. the underlying causes of these problems are poverty, unemployment, family breakdown, lack and
lose of social control, imbalance development between the rural and urban areas, Prevalence of harmful
traditional practices, HIV/AIDS, etc.
Social problems are related to socio-economic aspects of the society and affect not only those who are
directly involved but also their families and the society at large. The dominant social problems of the
town are listed in the following table.

Table 3.28: Prevalence of Major Social Problems

No Type of Social Current Estimated number of Victims of Social Problems
Problems Male Female Total
1 Prostitution - 130 130
2 Begging 140
4 Street Life 70 - 70
Source: Ambo Town Administration, Labor and Social Affairs Office, 2001

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3.3.2.1 Harmful Traditional Practices
The other problem that affects the life of people of the town and it‟s environ is harmful traditional
practices. Among such practices the major ones are: marriage of more than one wife, circumcision, rape
and abduction, premarital or early age sexual practices, divorce, gender inequality, etc. which
consequently create problems on women especially those divorced from their husbands face difficulty
with their children, they starved to death and isolate themselves from social participation due to this
problem. Because of circumcision and rape women confront complexity during birth giving, unwanted
pregnancy, be contaminated (infected) by HIV/AIDS, etc. The problem by itself invites the concerned
sector offices, stakeholders and the community at large to react against such practices.

3.3.2.2 Crime
Crime is an act that violates a political, religious, or moral command and prevailing norms, cultural
standards prescribing how humans ought to behave and considered important in protecting the interests
of the state or the welfare of its citizens or subjects. According to the data obtained from Ambo town
Administration Police Office, crime is one the serious social problems in the town. The data revealed
that during the previous years (1999 and 2000) there were 766 crime cases reported to the Police. The
most common crimes were 206 cases of physical attack or assault causing disabilities (26.9%), followed
by 185 cases of different social crimes (24.2%), 170 cases of theft (22.2%), 66 cases of violation of law
(8.6%), 32 cases of dishonesty (4.2%), 24 cases of snatching (3.1%), 20 cases of statutory rape (2.6%),
14 cases of using or carrying illegal weapon (1.8%), 13 cases of cheating (1.7%), 9 cases of rape and
hiding lost materials each (1.2%), 8 cases of homicide (1.0%), etc.

Table 3.29: The Situation of Criminal Acts of Ambo Town by Age Category 1999- 2000 E.C.
No Type of Crime 1999 2000
Age category Age category
16-18

19-30

31-50

16-18

19-30

31-50
Total

Total
9-15

9-15
51+

51+

1 Violation of Law - 8 23 11 4 46 - 3 9 6 3 21
2 Theft - 38 61 8 3 110 - 21 31 3 5 60
3 Physical attack - 22 66 35 2 125 - 12 42 25 2 81
4 Dishonesty - 4 6 8 2 20 - 4 1 5 2 12

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5 Cheating - 3 3 2 - 8 - - 2 3 - 5
6 Rape - 4 1 - - 5 - 3 - 1 - 4
7 Homicide - - 2 3 - 5 - - 1 2 - 3
8 Attempt to kill - - 2 1 - 3 - - 2 1 - 3
9 Snatching - 4 4 5 3 16 - 2 6 - - 8
10 Hiding of lost - 3 5 1 - 9 - - - - - -
properties
11 Dispossession of 2 7 3 1 - 13 - 3 2 2 - 7
virginity
12 Adultery - - 3 - 3 - - - - - -
13 Illegal weapon - 2 2 2 3 9 - 1 3 1 - 5
14 Various Social - 15 45 39 14 113 - 15 26 22 9 72
crimes
Total 2 110 226 116 31 485 - 64 125 71 21 281
Source: Ambo Town Administration Police Office, 2000

The data below further discloses that 652 cases (85.1%) male to 114 cases (14.9%) were involved
during the above-mentioned period. This means in most cases male counterparts deadly involve in
serious criminal acts.

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Table 3.30: Trends of Crimes Committed by Year and Sex 1999-2000 E.C
No Type of Crime Number of Crimes Committed
1999 2000
M F Total M F Total
1 Violation of Law 41 5 46 20 1 21
2 Theft 100 10 110 55 5 60
3 Physical attack 111 14 125 63 18 81
4 Dishonesty 12 8 20 7 5 12
5 Cheating 7 1 8 5 - 5
6 Rape 5 - 5 4 - 4
7 Homicide 5 - 5 3 - 3
8 Attempt to kill 3 - 3 3 - 3
9 Snatching 16 - 16 8 - 8
10 Hiding of lost properties 8 1 9 - - -
11 Dispossession of virginity 9 4 13 5 2 7
12 Adultery 2 1 3 - - -
13 Illegal weapon 9 - 9 5 - 5
14 Various Social crimes 90 23 113 56 16 72
Total 418 67 485 234 47 281
Source: Ambo Town Administration Police Office, 2009

The information obtained from Municipal Police Office depicts that the situation of criminal acts tend
to show a decreasing trend from the previous year. Though it seems decreasing, the main solution to
curb criminal acts in the town is promoting the participation of the community by establishing
community policing, working on prevention of crimes in collaboration with different parties. The
main point to be focused on is protecting women and children from abduction and rape that are the
major social evils recurrently occurred in and around the town. Generally, awareness creation
towards the general public should be promoted and in the long term strengthening the police, justice
organs, etc, has to be reconsidered.

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Finally, in order to alleviate the social problems that are prevailing in the town, social welfare
services have to be widely promoted in the town and the concerned bodies have to work towards the
coordination of different social welfare programs with the participation of the community. So, the
Developmental Social Welfare Policy, which strives to promote the welfare of the segments of
society who‟s a social welfare, is a priority: children, youth, the family, women, the elderly, persons
with physical and mental disabilities and persons trapped by social problems, the developmental,
preventive and rehabilitative approaches should be put into practice.

CHAPTR FOUR
4. Urban Economy
4.1 Economic base of the town
Economic base of towns can be determined by industrial divisions and economic activities that run in
the selected area. Despite the fact that some industrial divisions are mostly dominant by population
engaged capacity, such industrial divisions are known as economic base of a town. Thus, according
to the town administration finance and economic development office Ambo town dwellers are
engaged in to primary, secondary and tertiary economic activities to sustain their livelihood,
especially agriculture, industry, trade, mining, civil servant and others.

As the data each industrial divisions has their own economic contributions accordingly. Yet, before
says something about economic base of the town have to demonstrate the data taken from the office
as shown in fig. 1. In the fig. 4.1 „Y‟ and „X‟ axis were representing percentage share and industrial
divisions respectively. See the details of the most determinant industrial divisions that belong to
economic base of Ambo town.

Fig. 4.1: Economic base of Ambo Town, 2001

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According to, fig. 4.1 trade and trade related activities has taken the largest share (46%) of the town
economy, followed by civil servant (30%) and thirdly comes others (not notified) sectors (12%). On
other hand mining sector takes the last percentage (1%) from the town economy divisions. Therefore,
the town economic base is characterized by trade and trade related activities during the town structure
plan field survey.
Finally, the town under consideration shows fully urban economic characteristic, because urban
economic characteristic mostly representing non agriculture economic activities than agricultural
/primary economic/ activities. Thus, according to our cause non agricultural economic activities are
includes trade, civil servant, industry /manufacturing) and other economic sectors, which are known
as secondary and tertiary economic activity. That means non agricultural economic activities would
be taken about 91% of the total economic division at the time of structure plan preparation field
survey. Depending upon the economic base of the town ought to analysis major economic activities
run in the town deeply to put achievable planning solution in planning period.

4.2 Major economic activities in the town

As mentioned above Ambo town
populations are engaged in six
economic divisions to sustain
their livelihood, from such
economic division the major
economic activities running in
the town are trade, urban
agriculture, micro and small
enterprise, tourism and
investment. These economic
activities must be require
planning solutions based on the
planning issue that gathered
from different sources during field survey to enhance economic performance of each activities
accordingly. So that each economic activity is discussed here below side by side based on the existing
situation to identify gaps in the area and comes with reliable recommendation

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4.2.1 Trade
Presently, trade and trade related activities are playing a great role in the town economic development
with respect to other economic activities; however it is, according to the data from Ambo town
administration trade and industry development office there are some illegal practices in the sector.
The detail of it would be shown in table 2 on legality bases, 2001.

Table 4.1: Type of trade activities in the town on the base of legality, 2001
No Type of trade Licensed Un-licensed Total Remark
1 Wholesaler 43 2 45
2 Retailer 469 35 504
3 Service related 442 20 462
4 Industry related 87 3 90
5 Agriculture related 1 0 1
Total 1042 60 1102

Source: Ambo town administration trade, industry and transport office, 2001

According to table 4.1 almost 1102 households engaged on different types of trade activities, of these
about 60 of them are acting illegal ways. From the total illegal actors in the sector about 35 of them
are involving in retailer trade activities. As information from the officials most of illegal activities are
the result of low financial capacity of an individual those engaged in the sector, because except
services related trade activities all the others are asking initial working capital to legalized.

However, during field survey the office set up process of inventory to tackle illegality, which
hindering the sector. In both side (government and those working legally) illegal practices are
imposing negative impact on taxation gap and market distortion. Though to minimize illegality the
concerned body and society should be hunting through mobilizing those operating illegally; thus,
awareness creation is the most and important tool to curb illegality.

Moreover, during the structure plan field survey in the town there are about 1042 legal licensed trade
activities under five trade sectors, such as wholesalers, retailers, service, industry (manufacturing)
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and agriculture related trade. Each trade sectors have their own percentage share in economic
development of the area as calculated in the below fig. 4. 2. The chart is indicating entire legally
registered activities based on their issued licenses from the concerned body at different level in the
town.

Fig. 4.2: Percentage share of licensed trade sectors in Ambo town, 2001
From the total trade sectors, which are runs in the town agriculture related trade activity share was
insignificate. The remain four are has their own percentage share depending up on number of
participante in the sector.

According to the data calculated in the fig. retailer

trade activities take the first share (45%), followed
by service related trade (43%), thridly and fourthly
comes industry related trade (8%) and wholesaler
(4%) respectively during structure plan preparation
field survey.

In the real world bondage of urban development and trade activities trend have very strong
correlation. The correlation trends sometimes show increment or not in favor due to different ground.
To identify the correlation trends of trade activities in towns could be requests long year data while
for our consumption five years data will be sufficient. In the fact that, the data which is show trends
of trade activities in the town would be collected for five years (1997-2001). The data in the table
exactly indicating the licensed actors in the area which mean never consider illegal actors.

Table 4.2: Trends of trade activities by capital register and employment opportunity in the
town, 1997-2001
Types of 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
investment No Cop. No Cop. No Cop. No Cop. No Cop.
Wholesaler 2 5000 9 95000 14 558500 8 84300 10 148000
Retailer 243 1400600 75 259100 53 160400 85 342367 14 73100
Industry related 53 1332857 15 899962 7 66080 11 222880 1 28000
Service related 150 11276523 81 3234494 77 1141007 87 4015595 47 3151457
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Agriculture related 1 200000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 449 14214980 180 4488556 151 1925987 191 4665142 72 3400557
Source: Ambo town administration trade, industry and transport office, 2001
As illustrated in the table 4.2 except agriculture related trade activity all others belong to increment
trends from year to year. When compare trade activities in the town since 1997 with 2001 wholesaler,
retailer, service and industry related trades are increased 95%, 48%, 39% and 66% respectively.
Increment of the sector is not only in the side of participants, but also it increasing on capital injected
in the sector, which is indicated better purchasing power of the society. From this anyone can
generalize that, the town has better potential for who are engage in the sector to return rational profit
within short period of time. Then the under preparation structure plan should be allocate compatible
and convenience commercial site with better infrastructure access.

4.2.2 Investment
In economic term investment refers to spending or setting money for future more financial gain,
which has different sense at micro and macro level. At micro level it might be include purchasing of
financial assets or durable goods, (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, life insurance, housing or a car), as
well as involving on individual serving investments like, commerce, services, small scale industry
and agriculture. While at macro level it refers to increases of real capital force (factories or
machineries), as far as human capital force (skilled and educated labor).

Based on this broad common sense, the town should exercising investment activities insight of micro
concept. Existing investors in the town are operating an investment that stated under micro level, like
commerce, services, small scale industry and agriculture depending on demand and supply condition.
Demand and supply refers to the possibilities of an area having investment potential for future
development. In normal condition demand and supply found at equilibrium level without make
unbalance, but sometimes become vice-versa. When demand and supply unbalance there is some
inefficient or insufficient activity in the area, which is not recommended as an economist. Therefore,
to investigate something about investment circumstance in the town the following data (table 4.3)
was exactly illustrates the five years demand and supply trends with investment sector.

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Table 4.3: Demand and supply trends of investors in the town 1997-2001
No Types of Demands of investors by years
investment 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
DD SS DD SS DD SS DD SS DD SS
1 Commerce 24 8 26 10 16 13 23 19 12 3
2 Services 19 7 15 6 23 21 9 5 3 1
3 Industry 4 1 5 0 8 7 2 1 1 0
4 Agriculture 2 0 4 2 3 2 2 1 1 0
Total 49 16 50 18 50 43 36 26 17 4
Source: Ambo town administration investment office, 2001

For the last five years (1997-2001), in the town demand of investment is relatively more than
supplied, for instance in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 about 33%, 36%, 86%, 72% and 24% of
applicants were garneted respectively. This implies that in the area there are some reasons, which are
hindering investment activities rather than flourish. As information from the town administration
investment office some reasons are:
 Before 1999 investment application starts from the region investment commotion, which had
high bureaucracy chain,
 Some applicants have not clear idea about investment application process and
 In the town there is no clear delineated manufacturing investment site as applicants interest

Currently the first two causes are eradicated through the government taken action to reduce
investment bureaucracy chain, which was authorizing towns in the region and create awareness about
investment application process. The only remain problems that hindering investment activities in the
town is the existence of inappropriate allocation site according to the investors‟ interest. To overcome
this difficulty the under preparation structure plan will be delineated appropriate manufacturing
investment zone depending up on scientific analysis that will be encourage investments.

However it is the accomplishment percentage of applicant shows some improvement in the years
above mentioned, because according to some investors and the investment office experts, investment
concept become familiarizes in both sides (public and individual investors). As a result, investment

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activities are increases from year to year on demand and supply side as inducted in table 4.4 below.
The table was illustrated types and number investments, land provided; capital registered and job
opportunity per year in the sector. From this framework anyone can be suggested about investment
activities circumstances easily.

Table 4.4: Trends of investment in relation to capital creation and employment opportunity
in the town, 1997-2001
Type of Year of Number of Land Capital Job creation
investment guaranteed investment provided in Registered
per year M2
1997 8 4,829 6,783,183.99 72
1998 10 21304.5 7,015,481.60 184
1999 13 37430.48 25,951,509.49 293
Commerce 2000 19 30128.12 203,393,325.05 499
Sub total 50 93,692.1 243,143,500.13 1048
1997 7 21,930.15 17,024,098.75 336
Services 1998 6 10391.35 5,883,410.99 88
1999 25 112,415.80 94,914,800.59 1436
2000 4 9437.9 5,486,009.40 118
Sub total 42 154,175.2 123,308,319.73 1978
1997 1 13190 6,500,000 45
Industry 1999 3 7994 10,227,861 288
2000 2 2853.25 5,107,488.85 120
Sub total 6 24037.25 21,835,349.85 453
1998 2 85,000 1,313,605.00 62
Agriculture 1999 2 93,000 6,163,605 52
2000 1 700 3,600,000 32
Sub total 5 178,700 11,077,210 146
Grand total 103 450,605 399,364,379.71 3625
Source: Ambo town administration investment office, 2001

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According to, table 4.4 investment activities in the town found on growing tendency for the last five
years (1997-2001) as a whole, hence from total 18 number of investment since 1997 increases in to
103 about 83% currently. The increment is not only in number but also in increases in capital
registered and job opportunity from 31,620,887 to 399,364,379.71 about 92% and 515 to 3625 about
86% respectively. As indicated in the table 5.4, commerce and service investments are show
booming growth tendency when compared with other investment activities in the area.

Yet, entire investment activities found in the town are not starting their usual duty according to the
agreement assigned with concerned authority, since some of are found at under construction and
others are not take any action completely, see the detail in the table 5.5 below that inducted the
existing status of investment activities in the town under consideration.

Table 4.5: The current status of investment by their type in the town, 2001
Type of Not function Under construction Start function
investments
No Capital Job Land No Capital Job Op. Land No Capital Job Land
injected Op. obtained injected obtained injected Op. obtained
Commerce 16 54376431.1 788 22231 17 168683019 368 31271 15 20080364 368 40190.5
Services 11 18053855.34 715 16847.4 15 36984056 365 38645 20 68270408 823 88192.8
Industry 1 3883048.8 0 2310 1 10227861 288 7994 2 7724440.1 145 13733.25

Agriculture 2 7950000 32 10700 2 1313605 62 85000 1 500000 14 3000

Total 30 84263335.24 1535 52088.4 35 217208541 1083 162910 38 96575212 1350 145116.6

Source: Ambo town administration investment office, 2001

From total 103 of investments were registered in the town 38 of them starts their usual duty as
agreement assigned and 35 of them are found at under construction while 30 of them are not take any
responses until field survey time. This is indicating that the existence of land speculation, which is
hindering investment activities through misleading investment concept in the society, as well as
reduces public revenue, expected from the services and undermines the job opportunity of citizens.
Then the town administration and investment office should be take measure on those who are made
land speculators gradually to flourish investment activities in the area, unless and otherwise the
situation will be complicating the sector in addition to other simple obstacles. Moreover, availability
of land resource only not mandatory for investment appeal, but also inputs and market to their
products are irreversible. Any investment promoter beforehand calculated his cost benefit analysis

101
regarding to maximizing profit from injected capital. As our context, profit maximization is the result
of existence low labor cost and abandoned raw materials in the surrounding, as well as adjacent
market area.

The existing Investments are supplying outputs to domestic market, especially for hinterland society
because most of investors are involving on commerce and services activities rather than industrial
product. Types of investments are depending on availability of inputs in an area, though Ambo town
investment input sources are illustrated as table 4.6 below.

Table 4.6: Source of raw materials for investment production in percent

Sources of input Remarks
Labor Raw materials
Types of Local base Anywhere in Local Anywhere in From
investments in (%) the country In (%) the country abroad
Commerce 83.3 16.7 61.25 37.25 1.5
Services 75 25 55.8 35 9.2
Industry 65 35 40 50 10
Agriculture 75 25 55 43.5 1.5
Average 74.6 25.4 53 41.4 5.6
Source: Ambo town administration investment office, 2001

According to table 4.6 most of labor force and raw materials are extracts from local base, which is
fruitful for investment development. Overall lobar forces for investment in the town are acquires
from local base and domestic labor market, as well as about 94.4% of raw materials also obtains from
domestic market.

Investment activities in the town till now found at infant stage or it taken in to account insignificant
potential, hence anyone confidently say that for who invest in the area can perform within short
period of time. Currently there are not standard services in the town as demand welling, like hotels,
supermarkets, recreations, agro-industries, horticulture, livestock, poultry and soon.

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Investment potential
Potential of investment in the town shall be categorized in to primary, secondary and tertiary
economic activities as the following:

1. Primary economic activities

 Agricultural land
 Rivers and streams for irrigation
 Livestock investment
 Miming (limestone & minerals water bottling)
 Crusher activity
2. Secondary economic activities
 Agro-processing industry
3. Tertiary economic activities
 Standard hotels
 Recreation

Problems
 Incompatible manufacturing site
 Lack of infrastructure

Suggestion
The plan should be allocate compatible manufacturing investment site and the town administration
should be making negotiate with inter-sectorals to eradicate infrastructure problems

4.2.3 Micro and small enterprise

Currently micro and small enterprise concept highly disperses throughout the country as means of
unemployment eradication. However it is, the sector cannot evenly distribute throughout the regions,
as far as throughout towns in the region. Presently in the town under discussion micro and small
enterprise activity found at good condition, because till field survey time the sector organized about
90 MSE groups on 19884m2 land with 853 people. In the fiscal year MSE sector get due attention as

103
the town administration trade and industry development office MSE section expert information,
because about 24 groups with total member of 181 was organized, since January 30, 2001.

Table 5.7: The current status of MSE in the town by sectors, 2001
No Type Number of Members Initial capital
groups M F T
1 Urban agriculture 1 3 0 3
2 Small scale industry 2 11 22 33
3 Construction 2 19 5 24
4 Services 9 31 18 49
5 Trade 10 16 56 72
Total 24 80 101 181 24000
Source: Ambo town administration trade and industry development office, 2001
In the fiscal year up to mentioned date about 24 MSE groups are organized, which is close to MSE
groups were organized in the last year (2000), this indicated that currently micro and small enterprise
has better attention than the last four years. To realize this situation see trends of MSE that organized
for the last four year (1997-2000).

Table 4.8: The trends of micro and small enterprise in the town, 1997-2001
Years
MSE sectors N 1997 N 1998 N 1999 N 2000
G M F T G M F T G M F T G M F T
Urban 0 2 3 11 14 1 8 12 20
agriculture
Small scale 2 9 2 11 4 19 5 24 7 70 22 92 5 45 9 54
industry
Construction 0 0 0 0 3 30 0 30 3 33 0 33 7 74 3 77
Services 2 23 1 24 1 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 11 70 29 99
Trade 0 0 0 0 6 35 19 54 10 102 9 111 2 5 19 24
Total 4 32 3 35 16 87 40 127 20 205 31 236 26 202 72 274
Source: Ambo town administration trade and industry development office, 2001

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According to table 4.8, involvement of micro and small enterprise activities are increases from year
to year in number of groups (NG) and participants. In addition the sector also increases from two in
1997 to five in 2000. When compare MSE situation in the town in year 1997 with 2001 number of
groups‟ (NG) increases from 4 to 90, participant members from 35 to 853, land obtained from 200m2
to 19622m2 and female participation also increases from 3 to 244 respectively. Ignorance of female
participation in the sector is very high because from the existing micro and small enterprise members
in the town female accounted only 29% only. As some MSE group members and the office, as well
as simple personal judgment the sector has the following problems:
Inconvenience working area
Market problem
Tedious financing system to addressing the targeting groups
Lack of attention from the town administration
Shortage of budget
Low participation of female
Solutions
Boldly underline that to solve the inconvenience working area problem from scratch the municipality
should be bear in mind during detail plan preparation to allocate appropriate site and attached MSE
groups with Ambo University College, Ambo prison, Hospital and other private investment to
facilitate market access. Moreover, the town administration should be allocate enough budgets and
encourage female entrepreneurship, as well as have to facilitate financial sources to address the target
groups

4.2.4 Urban agriculture

Less developing countries like ours, the sector seen as the one and the most economic base of towns‟,
because the activity could be highly linked with the behavior of society working habits. On other
hand the sector does not expected high qualification as much as other economic sectors and it can
observes whole family labor force. Due to this the sector can highly eradicates unemployment
problems in the area without any more training and workshops.

Ambo town is as one of the country towns urban agriculture activities playing a great role by
observed large number of town dwellers as inducted in the table 5.9. In real world the sector is

105
practicing on piece of land when compare with rural farming land, because in rural area uses bulky
farm land through extension farming system. In urban area, the sector exercises specialization
farming system than extension farming system. That means specialization farming system is the way
to obtain hug production from small size of land by incurring cost to apply scientific inputs while
extension farming system is increasing productivity through expanding land size. In the fact that, in
the town under consideration about 1861 populations are engaging in the sector on 32 hectares of
land to sustain their family livelihood adjacent to others economic activities.

Table 4.9: The existing urban agricultural activities in the town, 2001
No Type of activities People engaged Area of land Its Financial
M F T provided capacity
1 Horticulture 18 6 24 4 hectares 60000
2 Tree plantation 2 0 2 7 hectares 280000
3 Livestock farm 814 428 1242 10 2,880,150
3.1 Dairy farm 698 366 1064 4 hectares 2682000
3.2 Animal fatting 6 5 11 4 hectares 99,000
3.3 Sheep and goats rearing 110 57 167 2 hectares 99150
4 Poultry 320 250 570 2.5 hectares 80000
5 Beehive 23 0 23 9 hectares 109000
Total 1177 684 1861 32 hectares 3409150
Source: Ambo town administration trade and industry development office, 2001

According to table 4.9 urban agriculture activities are practicing on the five main sectors such as
horticulture, tree plantation, livestock, poultry and beehive. Thus, livestock activities take the largest
share in population engage, land obtained and capital injected than other remain four. Livestock
activity, also categorized under three sub activities, such as sheep and goat rearing, dairy farm and
animal fattening. And followed by poultry on the base of population engaged, on other hand, from
five urban agriculture activities tree plantation take the last share on the base of population engaged.
As far as concerning that, livestock activities of the sector need due attention more than others,
because it is handling large numbers of citizens livelihood. Moreover there are about five types of
livestock categories during field survey as indicated in the table 4.10 below:

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Table 4.10: population of animals in the town, 2001
No Type High birding Domestic Total
1 Cattle 256 2487 2743
2 Sheep 0 502 502
3 Goats 0 159 159
4 Donkey 0 184 184
5 Horses 0 12 12
6 Poultry 911 1367 2278
Sub total 1167 4711 5878
7 Beehives 42 48 90
Total 1209 4759 5968
Source: Ambo town administration trade and industry development office, 2001

From the total number (5878) of animals cattle accounted about 2743, of these 256 of them are high
birding. Except cattle and poultry other four types of animals did not have high birding species in the
town under consideration, but beehive has high birding species. As information from urban
agriculture section expert in the town the high birding species provide better outputs than domestic.
From high birding animals some examples are:

Fig. 4.3: Example of high birding animals

in the town, 2001

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There are different species of animals in the town, because the current Ambo University collages
before upgrading in to the current level or in to university collage known as Ambo agricultural
collage that was done on agricultural activities. From the task of agricultural departments in the
college upgrading of animals genetic is the most one. Currently the University continues that duty
strongly and distributes the most qualified genetics to the town dwellers and the hinterland farmers,
as the result large number of households engaged in the activity to sustain their live hood. As some
information the fertile ground to the sector are the existences of:
Ambo University College
The existence of rivers and streams
Ample climate and
Abundant agriculture land
However, the sector has some problems like shortage of agricultural land because of the existing
master plan inappropriate implementation and lack of urban agriculture extension. To curb the
problems the municipality should be implements all land use as allocated on the plan with giving
attention.

4.2.5 Tourism
Now a day tourism sector is seen as smokeless industry overall the world including less developed
countries, like us. However, in our cause the sector was denied for the last about two decades,
because the policies were existed did not flourished tours. After the country adopted the free market
policy tourism concept problems handover, as a result many tour attraction sites are publish through
different media agents‟ entire regions.

As the town found at western part of the country, especially to Oromia region has hug eco-tourism
potential due to land setting feature, but in the area till today the sector has no attention as nature gift
the excellent landscape feature, however it is the town tourism potential classified in to heritage and
eco-tourism.
1. Eco-tourism (natural):
Scenic view
Hot spring mineral water
Natural waterfall

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 The unique natural bridge

2. Heritage (manmade):
Ambo Palace
Ethiopian Hotel with swimming pool
Zone administration and municipality offices building
The old Ambo bottling factory building

According to East Shewa administration zone culture and tourism office data all natural gift tourism
sites are not well developed, particularly in the town administration. As a result economic value of
the sector is become insignificant, because of ignorance of the sector.

In the future public and society make integration to develop and advocate the potential through any
means of introducing instrument. Somehow the town has better condition for tourists who are willing
to coming, for instance standard hotels with convenience means of transportation.

Finally the area should be has hug tourism site potential as such no development and attractive to
tourist vigorously. Though, the structure plan also has to protect the historical areas like Ambo
Palace, Ethiopia hotel, zone administration office and municipality office buildings including the
previous Ambo mineral water bottling factory site.

4.3 Financial institution

Contribution of financial institutions in economic development is irreversible because it calls
investment through saving and lending money. So that, an area which have better accesses of
financial institutions has more development advantage.

In the new world existence of financial institutions are highly activate economic transaction through
balancing flow of cash in the market. Hence, when societies are customs saving system inflation and
defilation of money in the market will be illuminated. On other hand as saving increase investment
also increase and as investment increase job opportunity of society will increases, as soon as per
capital income of individuals increases, as per capital income of individual increases saving capacity

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of an individual also increase. Thus, availability of financial institutions in the area is making series
cycle in economic development.
Base on this economic interpretation Ambo town has different type of financial institution to support
economic activities, which running in the zone. Though, financial institutions found in the town are
identified as table 5.11 by type and ownerships.

Table 4.11: The existing financial institutions in the town by type and owner ships
Banks Owner ship Micro Owner ship Insurance Owner ship
companies
finance
Gov‟t Non Gov’t Non Gov’t Non Gov’t
institutions
Gov‟t Gov’t Gov’t
Commercial bank of Ethiopia √ Busa Gonfa √ Medihn √
Development bank of Ethiopia √ WLQO √ Awash √
Awash international bank √ Ishet √ Oromia √
Oromia cooperative bank √ Wisdom √
Oromia bank √
Source: Ambo town administration finance and economic development office, 2001

According to, information from the town administration finance and economic development office
there are five regular banks and four micro finance institution, which are landing and saving money
to customers, in addition there are three non-governmental insurances as inducted in table 5.11 above.
From the existing financial institutions in the town except two banks and one micro-finance
institution all other are belongs to non-governmental (private) ownership. As some customers
information there is no as such troubles on banking services, because customers can be served within
short period of time without long waiting. At the same time as the number of institution increases
from year to year customers saving habit also increases gradually in the town.

Finally, as financial institution accessed saving Investment Job opportunity Per capital income
Saving, though currently in the town there is better access of financial institution while in near
future will be desires additional financial institutions, because these banks service for the most
district in the zone.

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4.4 Urban finance
As our context, urban finance encompasses revenue collection and expenditure spent in the town.
Both activities are discussed here below one by one based on the data, which is collected from two
offices, namely the town revenue office and the town finance and economic development office.

4.4.1 Revenue
Towns in the region have the right to collect revenue from different revenue sources to enhance
social welfare of the society. Hence it is operating in to the town administration and the municipality
level simultaneously at one office. Though, Ambo town is one of the large towns in the region which
is operating revenue process independently as their revenue sources, therefore, the municipality and
the town administration revenue office is collecting revenue from main 21 and 25 revenue codes
respectively during field survey.

4.4.1.1 The municipality revenue

In 2001 the municipality would be collecting revenue from 45 sub revenue titles as, while it
categorized under 21 main revenue codes.

Table 4.12: Current revenue base and annual plan in the municipality
Revenue Revenue title Annually Percent (%) accomplished from
codes Planned Accomplished planned Total accomplis
planned hed
1701 Sale taxes 0 78124.85 - 1.08 2.1
1721 Land rent 1315000 1204142.86 91.57 16.70 32.3
1722 Houses rent 492180 189800.76 38.56 2.63 3.73
1723 Trade service charge 168000 297100.14 176.85 4.12 7.97
1724 Shade shops rent 25920 23847.92 92.00 0.33 0.64
1725 Market service charge 105000 24125 22.98 0.33 0.65
1726 Livestock market service charge 150000 53886 35.92 0.75 1.45
1729 Other rents 424600 87370.63 20.58 1.21 2.34
1742 Construction permit fee 0 20356.5 0 0.28 0.55
1746 Different punishment 100000 45291.24 45.29 0.63 1.22
1747 Bus station service charge 208870 156633.29 74.99 2.17 4.20
1749 Different fee 3620000 54237.4 1.50 0.75 1.46

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1751 Hygiene service charge 20000 0 0 0 0
1752 Expert service charge 120000 375798.54 313.17 5.21 10.08
1772 Certificate approving service charge 125000 62961.42 50.37 0.87 1.69
1773 Registration fee 68000 379338.08 557.85 5.26 10.18
1774 Renewal and approval of plan fee 0 618980.47 0 8.58 16.61
1776 Abattoir service charge 120000 37753 31.46 0.52 1.01
1779 Horses cart and bicycle code fee 10000 2416 24.16 0.03 0.065
1781 Parking service charge 90000 12850.5 14.28 0.18 0.34
1782 Trade advertisement board fee 48000 2425 5.05 0.03 0.70
Total 7210570 3727439.6 51.69
Source: Ambo town administration revenue office, 2001

According to table 4.12, revenue from land rent take the first share (32.3%), followed by plan
renewal and approval fee (16.61%) and thirdly comes registration fee (10.18%), while hygiene
service charge has not any contribution for collected revenue in the municipality until (30, January
2001). On other hand, three revenue sources (plan renewal and approval fee, sale tax and construction
permit fee) should not recognized as revenue source during planned, but more than Birr 0.7million
generated from such sources. This is indicating that the existence of inefficient planning system
because about 19.25% of revenue was collected from unplanned revenue source in the fiscal year.

Likewise, planning and implementation of revenue collection system subsist some weaknesses, hence
could not exhaustively find out the revenue sources and not plan as can perform, as a result some
revenue was collected without planned and some performed more and less than unexpected.
Furthermore the existing revenue collection system is poor as the information from the office and
simple personal judgment from table 4.12 above. As soon as 30, January 2001 the plan was
accomplished only 51.69%, this implies that the plan does not achieved success fully within the fiscal
year. As information from the office and simple personal judgment, to hold back the situation has to
train the revenue collectors and aware tax payers‟ those who are unwilling to pay taxes. The
municipality does collecting revenue for a long period of time as it can be perform, however it is, for
the curiosity of us the five years data could be enough to analysis a performance capacity of the
municipality, though see the detail in table 5.13 below:

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Table 4.13: Trends of revenue collected and annual plan of the municipality, 1997-2001
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Planned Accomplish Planned Accomplish Planned Accomplish Planned Accomplish Planned Accomplish
ed ed ed ed ed
2036956.36 1755225.41 2452000 2062846.35 3595240 2946737.1 7164925 4232817.43 7210570 3727439.60

Source: Ambo town administration revenue office, 2001

As, table 4.13 above shows the revenue planned and accomplished trend in the town implies
somewhat increment from 1997-2001, however, when calculated planned with accomplishment to see
the capability of the municipal in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 (seven month) shows 86.17%,
84.13%, 81.96%, 59.08 and 51.69% respectively. One can see the declined curve from year to year
regarding to plan accomplishment intensity.

Planning growth rate from 1997 to 1998, 1998 to 1999 and 1999 to 2000 shows radical increment
9.25%, 18.91% and 33.18% respectively while automatically decline in to 0.32% for 2000 to 2001
fiscal year. This fluctuation comes due to low performance of revenue collection accomplished
8.06%, 17.64%, 17.91 and -6.35% (seven month implementation) respectively.

4.4.1.2 The town administration revenue

Here collecting revenue from 25 revenue sources, which are planned on the base of each source as
can generate revenue. In the table 5.14 below the amount of revenue planned and accomplished at the
time of field survey could be stated.

Table 4.14: Main revenue title in the town administration in respect to planned, collected and
uncollected, 2001
No Revenue title Annually
Planned collected Uncollected
1 Government employee income tax 1463052 825633.16 637418.84
2 Private employee income tax 1607776 1158503.61 449272.40
3 Trade profit tax 887410 601041.84 286368.16
4 Private organization profit tax 112493 48998.41 63494.59
5 Leather and leather product tax 23340 2300 21040
6 Fuel and fuel product tax 2709 625 2084
7 Hotel service profit tax 9360 6255.06 3104.94

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8 Alcohol and alcohol product tax 0 11589.25 0
9 Iron and iron sheet sale tax 0 375 0
10 Agricultural production profit tax 67153 5420 61733
11 Different equipment sale profit tax 605375 436754.19 168620.81
12 Garage service charge 49026 12060 36966
13 Tailor service charge 49476 10268.33 39207.67
14 Attorney 44065 13450 30615
15 Photo and photo copy service charge 13644 13721 77
16 Bedroom service charge 131414 86918.32 44495.68
17 Barberry and beauty salon service charge 65737 43078.59 22658.41
18 Different service charge 146584 95450.31 51133.69
19 Timber sale tax 277939 320584.32 0
20 Professional license service charge 52082 72070 0
21 Animals health service charge 14908 3036 11872
22 Health service income tax 4883 0 4883
23 Different format publishing service charge 7406 9178.1 0
24 Cost share 1335 0 1335
25 Different income tax 183599 73095.4 110503.60
Total 5820766 3850405.89 2046883.79
Source: Ambo town administration revenue office, 2001

On average revenue collection accomplishment accounted about 66.15% in the fiscal year for past
seven months, from this simply observing that the accomplishment performance should be become
successfully as the last three years experience. Due to absence of data cannot analysis the revenue
trends because the data from the office belongs to only three years, so that within three years data
cannot concluded the trend of action taken.

Table 4.15: The trend of revenue collected and annual plan of the town administration, 1997-
2001
1998 1999 2000 2001
Planned Accomplished Planned Accomplished Planned Accomplished Planned Accomplished
2155338 2385698.19 3016270 3373193.63 4153434 5230356.67 5820766 3850405.89

Source: Ambo town administration revenue office, 2001

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According to table 7.15, revenue collected in the town administration in 1998, 1999 and 2000
accomplished about 110.69%, 111.83% and 125.93% respectively. Of this anyone can conclude that
in the fiscal year also will be achieve the plan with no duet.

4.4.2 Expenditure
Expenditure processes also operating in one office for two independent offices as revenue, such as
the municipality and the town administration offices. Both have the right to expenditure plan
according to the capacity of capital accrue.

4.4.2.1 Ambo administration expenditure

To see the trends of the town administration expenditure experience the writer ought to collected data
from the town administration finance and economic development office which illustrated in the table
5.16, but due to shortage of data it is too difficult to say something about the expenditure trend in the
town administration. Because the data obtained from the office were inducted only the last three
years including the fiscal year.

Table 4.16: The trend of expenditure in Ambo town administration, 1997-2001

Year Expenditure Title Planned Actually Expended Accomplished Unused
in percent budget
1999 Capital 5135220 4834492 94.14 300728
Recurrent 11451247 11151970 97.39 299277
Total 16586467 15986462 96.38 600005
2000 Capital 480000 479970 99.99 30
Recurrent 13214835 13138170 99.42 76665
Total 13694835 13618140 99.44 76695
2001 Capital 3642192 402192 0 402192
Recurrent 16740668 12378403 6241576 6136827
Total 20382860 12780595 6241576 6539019
Source: Ambo town administration finance and economic development office, 2001
To say something about trends of a task in minimum should be need five years data that shows the
process. But according to the table 4.16 above, which had taken from the town administration finance

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and economic development office indicating only three years process including the fiscal year, so it is
not explain the trend of expenditure of the town administration.

4.4.2.2 Ambo town municipality expenditure

As the town administration the municipality also had expenditure plan on different expenditure title
to maximize social well fair of the society, however it is, expenditure title classified in to capital and
recurrent budget.

Table 4.17: The trends of expenditure in the municipality, 1997-2001

Year Expenditure Title Planned Actually Accomplished Unused budget
Expended in percent
1997 Capital 1305846.89 697746.08 53.43 6081000.72
Recurrent 924899.92 836228.05 94.41 88671.87
Total 2230746.81 1533974.13 68.77 6169672.59
1998 Capital 1927000 773858.98 40.16 1153141
Recurrent 1512844.52 1038383.10 68.64 474461.40
Total 3439844.52 1812242.08 52.68 1627602.4
1999 Capital 2190413.75 1912092.64 87.29 278321.10
Recurrent 2049550.32 1421608.34 69.36 627942
Total 4239964.07 3333700.98 78.63 906263.1
2000 Capital 4689122.32 2599211.74 55.43 2089910.60
Recurrent 2840403.87 1585704.23 55.83 1254699.60
Total 7529526.19 4184915.97 55.58 3344610.2
2001 Capital 3240000 532114.90 16.42 2707885.10
Recurrent 4074471 1900770.34 46.65 2173700.60
Total 7314471 2432885.24 33.26 4881585.7
Source: Ambo town administration finance and economic development office (2001)

As illustrated in table 4.17 above the municipality would be shown low performance of expenditure
budget accomplishment for the last four years, especially on the capital expenditure except in the year
1999, as some information from the office this came due to lack of skilled manpower and abuse
planning system. From this anyone can conclude that in the municipality there is hug money deposit
without any work, but in the reality there are high complicated problems regarding to social well fair
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infrastructure, like internal road, sewerage system, hygiene and public recreation area. So the
municipality to curb this condition should be employee skilled manpower who can analyze the plan
with their actualizing capacity.

4.5 Municipal asset

Municipal asset means assets which are use for the society‟s well being in the town directly or
indirectly. These assets are known as movable and non-movable according to the nature they have to
give services. The existing and the total needs of municipal assets found in the town are identified as
table 4.18 below:

Table 4.18: Type and the existing situation of municipality asset in the town, 2001
No Type of assets Existing Gap Total the existing Annual Annual Remark
Needs situation cost revenue
1 Vehicles
1.1 Double pickup cabinet - 2 2 - - -
1.2 Single pickup cabinet - 1 1 - - -
1.3 Mini bus - 1 1 - - -
2 Machineries 0 0
2.1 Excavator - 1 1 - - -
2.2 Dozer - 1 1 - - -
2.3 Girder - 1 1 - - -
2.4 Loader - 1 1 - - -
2.5 Tractors - 1 1 - - -
2.6 Liquid waste collector 1 0 1 Normal 60000 100000

2.7 Solid waste collector - 1 1 - - -

2.8 Dum truck 2 3 5 One not good 50000 150000

3 Livestock market - 1 1 - - -
5 Nursery site - 3 3 - - -
6 Hall - 1 1 - - -
7 Abattoir 1 1 2 Not good 10000 30000

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Total 5 19 23
Source: Ambo town Mayor Office

As illustrated in table 4.18 above the municipality asset situation generally found below unexpected,
because from fifteen total needs of movable assets in the town there are only three on service and two
vehicles are on the process to purchase. This is highly complicated urban problems in the area, means
the dwellers need different infrastructure while the municipality does not has the capacity to solve
such problems due to shortage of machines, such as dozer, loader, excavator, waste collector and etc.
This indicated that the existence of huge gap segment between total need and existing of movable and
unmovable assets in the town during field survey.

To overcome the problems regarding to movable assets the municipality should be plan to purchase
gradually according to its importance and the non-movable asset problems should be addressed
through the under preparation structure plan based on the standard and planning norms.

4.6 Institutional structure and human resource

4.6.1 The town administration
Under the town administration institutional structure has about 16 offices with total 440 manpower,
which are structured under business process reengineering (BPR) and as previous structure system,
the detail of it identified in table 4.19 below:

Table 4.19: Human resource distribution in the town administration offices, 2001

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No Manpower condition
Offices Total Actual Vacancy
BPR Old BPR Old BPR Old
1 Ambo town administration and security office 20 2 10 2 10 0
2 Information and communication office 0 5 0 4 0 1
3 Trade, industry and transport office 23 5 19 3 4 2
4 Public mobilization labor and social affairs office 4 11 4 10 0 1
5 Women affairs office 7 0 4 0 3 0
6 Ambo TVET office 3 0 3 0 0 0
7 Ambo town revenue office 38 0 28 0 10 0
8 Ambo town finance and economic development office 43 4 36 3 7 1
9 Ambo town capacity building office 14 16 11 6 3 10
10 Ambo town health office 37 14 31 14 6 0
11 Ambo town investment office 8 0 3 0 5 0
12 Ambo town education office 15 0 11 0 4 0
13 Ambo town youth and sport affairs office 13 0 8 0 5 0
14 Ambo town police office 70 0 70 0 0 0
15 House of town council office 0 12 0 3 0 9
16 Ambo town municipal office 54 22 31 8 23 14
Total 349 91 269 53 80 38
Source: Ambo town administration capacity building office

From the total 16 offices under the town administration seven of them are completely practicing BPR
system with 154 manpower; as well as seven of them found partially under BPR and partially as
previous way with 269 manpower, of these manpower 195 found under BPR, as well as the remain
two offices still found under the previous system with 17 manpower. Currently, from 440 job posts
80 and 38 vacancy exists under BPR and previous system respectively. Hence from total 349 posts
under BPR 77% of it occupied with manpower, as far as from 91 posts under previous structure 58%
of it occupied with manpower.

4.6.2 Ambo town municipality

The region works and urban development bureau was structured the towns like Ambo in to five
process, one department and one section with 68 manpower, of this manpower 53 of them were well
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thought-out as Business Process Reengineering and remain 15 were follows as before. See the detail
in the table 4.20 below:

Table 4.20: The structure and human resource distribution in the municipality, 2001
No Manpower condition
Sections Total Actual Vacancy
BPR Old BPR Old BPR Old
1 Municipality service department 2 5 0 2 2 3
2 Economic service section 0 5 0 1 0 4
3 Human resource management process 5 5 5 5 0 0
4 House transferring process 8 0 7 0 1 0
5 Town sanitation and greenery process 17 0 5 0 12 0
6 Service delivery and documentation process 8 0 3 0 5 0
7 Land provide and construction permit process 13 0 11 0 2 0
Total 53 15 31 8 22 7
Source: Ambo town Mayor Office

According to, the above table from the municipality institutional structure four processes are
completely practicing BPR and , one process, and one department are practicing both (BPR and the
previous) while the remain one section practicing as before. Yet, during structure plan preparation
field survey the BPR and the previous structure have 46% and 47% vacancy respectively, as the
result most of employees takes additional responsibility more than their job descriptions. This is has
its own negative impacts on the customers satisfaction.

In addition, in the municipality about 41% of responsibilities are facing on the daily laborers to
convince the customers need. This is, has its own drawback on sustaining good governance in the
area, furthermore employment base of the municipality also categorized under four classifications,
such as appointed, permanent, contract, and daily workers.

Table 4.21: The existing employment base in the municipality, 2001

Sex Appointed Permanents Contracts Daily laborers Total
Female 0 7 0 12 19

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 Male 1 31 1 18 51
Total 1 38 1 30 70
Source: Ambo town Mayor Office

According to table 5.22, municipality has one appointed, 38 permanent, one contract and 30 daily
laborers employees during field survey. From total 70 employees female accounted 27% that
indicates very low female employment level when contrast with male employees, moreover low
participation of female is not only in employment level, but also in educational qualification.

Professional qualification is the main requirement to assign the structure permitted from the
concerned body because all job position has its own professional qualification requirement, therefore
the municipality employees categorized as table 5.23 on the base of educational level within sex ratio.

Table 4.22: The existing municipality employee qualification

Education level Sex Remarks
Female Male Total
5-8 - 4 4
9-12 2 6 8
Certificate 3 2 5
Technique Diploma 1 4 5
Diploma 1 9 10
First Degree 0 7 7
Total 7 32 39
Source: Ambo town Mayor Office

This table is indicating that the existing of permanent employees in the municipality during filed
survey. Educational background of the existing employees implies better distribution, but according
to the municipality officials within the existing manpower qualification never addresses the
costumers need. To generalizing the topic, the municipality should be employee additional qualified
employees to overcome all complication related to human resources.

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4.7 Good governance
Good governance is the scientific method of service giving to satisfy customers needs based on
reliable principles. These principles are well thought-out about performance capacity of institution to
sustain good governance in the selected area depending on the different indicators, for instance rules
and regulation, municipal assets, human resources, revenue performance and etc.

For our case, amount of revenue collected, municipal assets and human power level are the most
determinant factors to sustain the good governance beside other things in the area. As earlier
mentioned the revenue collection performance of the municipality was very low as the results the
town cannot purchase different machines, which are facilitate the situation of good governance.
Hence from fifteen total needs of movable municipal asset only three gives service and two vehicles
are on the process to purchase, which indicating extremely low condition, as well as there is low
situation of manpower regarding to number and qualification also not as much as satisfactory,
because there is about 118 and 29 vacancies under the town administration and the municipality
structure during field survey. This makes the services given in the area is unsatisfactory.

To overcome the situation the town administration and municipality have to allocate enough budget
for purchasing of most important assets gradually and to employee qualified manpower according to
the structure permitted, unless and otherwise within the current situation impossible to sustain good
governance in the area.

4.8 Recommendations
Town economy study is the most and the best determinant component during plan preparation and
implementation to exist sustainable development in the area, thus in the sector activities like trade,
investment, micro and small enterprise, urban agriculture, manufacture and tourism needs planning
solutions through the under preparation structural plan, as well as urban finance, municipality assets
and human resources are needs seclusions through public.

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Planning interventions through the structure plan are:
As the town economy based on trade and trade related activities the under preparation
structure plan should be allocate compatible and convenience commercial site with better
infrastructure access

The current industrial zone had its own drawback regarding to incompatibility, so the plan
ought to allocate appropriate industrial zone depending up on planning principles to enhances
investment activities

Micro and small enterprise sector has inconvenience working area, which hindering the sector
rather than flourish, thus boldly underline that to solve the troubles from scratch the
municipality will be bear in mind during detail plan preparation.

Now a day in the town urban agriculture sector absorbed about 1875 households with their
family, but it has land provision problem. On other hands, the town has hugged fertile
grounds that are unpaid land feature and rivers. Thus, the plan has to allocate sufficiently
agricultural land to enhance employment creation capacity of the sector.

Tourism sector is one of the forgotten sector in the zone, especially in Ambo town as
information from the public forum while the area has plenty eco-tourism and heritage
potential. Currently all these are not developed as tourism attraction site, so the plan should be
preserve and delineated as tourism site, as well as both side (public and society) should be
consider the sector as one of economic potential

Planning interventions through the public are:

Urban finance includes all money operation system in the town in the form of revenue and
expenditure. Though both activities have better performance at the town administration level
while low performance at municipality, so to curb the situation the sector ought to modify the
planning system and employees qualified professionals, as well as have to facilitate training
and workshops accordingly.

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To increases social welfare the contribution of municipal assets are irreversible or mandatory,
however, the existing municipal assets are found at poor quality and quantity, therefore within
this condition the town never addresses the customers need in near future consequently to
overcome the situation the town administration should be purchase movable assets
accordingly.

In the fact that, in the projected town both administration areas (municipality and town
administration) indicates the existence of many vacancy, thus the concerned bodies should be
fill the vacancy and assign appropriate professionals for appropriate job position.

Good governance is the result of more than five principles each has its own implication to
sustain fine customers satisfaction on spot while in the area under consideration there is huge
gap to practicing the good governance principles due to different cases. So that to overcome
the situation the town administration and municipality have to allocate enough budget for
purchasing of most important municipal assets and employee qualified manpower according
to the structure permitted, unless and otherwise within the current situation impossible to
sustain good governance in the area

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CHAPTER FIVE

5. Existing and proposal spatial and land use classification

5.1 Existing spatial and land use classification
5.1.1 Background
The effectiveness of planning and urban design solutions depends heavily upon the Planner‟s or
Designer understands on the overall spatial configuration of the respective urban area. For better
understanding of the space, spatial analysis is an essential component in the planning and design
processes.

A comprehensive understanding of the spatial dynamics of urban areas is very important in planning
process. In this background, this part of the field survey intends to examine under the following
topics

5.1.2 Existing spatial form of the town

The existing urbanized land of Ambo town has a width of some 10kms from Awaro Peasant
Association in the east to the Teltele River at the foot of Mi‟esa and Senkele Farisi hills in the
western side and 6km from Gosu Kisose Peasant Association in the south to Odo Liban Peasant
Association just few distance from Huluka river gorge to the north. In general term these two widths
of the urbanized land indicate the town shaped elliptically to the east west direction. But as the town
land stretched to the east land extent or the width from south to north declined which resulted for
linearity shape along the main road. So in general statement the existing urbanized area of the town
has a linear shape from eastern extreme and compacted in the rest part as indicated in the fig. 5.1
below.
Fig. 5.1: General pattern of Ambo town

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 • linear shape from its eastern
extreme and
•compacted in the rest part.

This is the result of;

•The town has a linear shape
from its eastern extreme and
compacted in the rest part.
•Haphazardly developed settlements
•Pervious planning effort
•Topographic feature
• The cross regional high way that dissected the town into
two parts
•The street network arrangement

In addition, if the overall shape of the town examined in relation to the built up land of the town
linearity along the main asphalt road with few extension to the south along the Weliso road, which is
the recent trend to be emerged, clearly observed. Furthermore when the town internal pattern is taken
into consideration the dominant part of the built up land segmented in to two parts by Huluka River
and its wide and deep gorge. These two parts are linked only with one bridge of the main asphalted
road and few footbridges on huluka. In both segments of the town the urban spaces are organized and
linked with the internal road network that are the mix of Grid iron, organic and oval radial pattern.
Even though the spatial morphology of Ambo clearly defined and dominated by the asphalted
highway and Huluka River but also the following factors have their own contribution. These are;
 Haphazardly developed settlements
 Pervious planning effort
 Other Topographic elements and
 The street network arrangement
From social service and utility distribution point of view, the present spatial configuration of
settlement is very expensive
Fig. 8.2: Satellite image of Ambo town

126
 From social service and utility distribution point of
view, the present spatial configuration of residential
settlement is very expensive

Aesthetically , the spatial morphology clearly defined and

dominated by the asphalted highway and Huluka river

5.1.3 Existing land use and classification of Ambo town

5.1.3.1 General
From the spatial field survey and the existing development plan the following existing land use
categories and their spatial configuration pattern and their land share from the built up and urbanized
area are produced and presented in the following figure and table. The functional classification of the
existing land use are taken in detail in this section to have a grass root understanding of the existing
spatial configuration of the town which will be treated in only six spatial components in the
synthesizing process of the structure plan in the next section.

127
Fig. 5.3: Map that shows the existing land use of the town

Table 5.1: This shows the percentage share of each the existing land use categories
No Land use classification Area in %
In Ha Built-up Urbanized
1 Residential =Pure 279.9 47.64 28.16
=Mixed 54.42 9.26 4.76
Sub total 277.22
2 Administration 23.38 3.98 1.64
3 Commerce 39.22 6.68 3.23
4 Service 129.37 22.02 12.30
5 Manufacturing and storage 25.31 4.31 1.83
6 Road and transport 60.03 10.22 5.32
7 Recreation 25.84 4.40 1.89
Sub total 587.49 100
8 Agriculture 173.64 - 17.47
9 Forest 86.81 - 8.73
10 Special function 146.08 - 14.69

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 Sub total 406.53
Grand total 994.1 100 100
5.1.3.2 Residential
The greater portion of the town area has been designated for this use in all parts of the town, however
its distribution and net residential density varies from place to place. For instance; residential
settlement is denser at Arada/ genda o6 as per the former Ganda division, which is the first settlement
area/ than of the former genda 05, (the second settlement area). And former genda 04 is the thrived
settlement area, which denser than former ganda 02, which is the fourth settlement as, illustrated in
the fig. 5.4 below.

Fig. 5.4: The existing residential density and pattern of the town
In all parts of the town
net residential density
per hectare varies from
place to place eg.

Genda 06=511.76

Genda 05=261.70

Genda 04=184.18

Genda 02=168.96

Genda 01=163.43

Genda 03=110.18

Old or inner town settlement

 Places of overcrowding and deteriorated housing /slum area/
 Lack of service provision.
 Poor living and working conditions.

The outside settlement

• low density The old town sector /Arada/ is deprived
• mix of legal and illegal settlement from any new development processes,
• Lack basic infrastructure and facilities and also the existing elements neglected
• Land underutilized

Currently ganda 06 and 05 are merged and designated as Ganda 03. The majority of this Ganda are
the old settlement areas where urban deterioration manifested besides of it‟s over crowdedness. Use
usual these residential areas are characterized by narrow access, unsafe living and working condition,
occupy prime land of the town, no play ground and greenery, vulnerable for different hazards like fire
129
and epidemic out breaks, etc. So these situations need planning intervention to solve the problem.
The illegal settlement and black land market is also another attention trapping event which greatly
observed around the periphery or at the fringe areas. Particularly these settlements are intensively
observed in east, east north and south of the town. These residential areas are characterized by lack of
basic services and infrastructure, loss of land resource, insecurity of tenure and the like. So this is
another extreme, which need planning intervention.

Most residential structures in the town are G+0, which dominantly built from wooden and mud
construction materials with peripheral attention for aesthetic value. There are few high rising
buildings, which are range between G+0 and G+6 along the main road without height regulated and
unorganized pattern according to their location importance that need planning intervention. But the
newly emerging condominium houses are inducing the bright future for the town in many aspects. As
far as the current legal plot allotment standard and housing typology are concerned; 3 types of plan
standards applied in Ambo town. These are; the Standard Housing Plan of 200 m 2 plot, the Standard
Housing Plan of 160- 180 m2 plot and since 1999 EC the Standard Housing Plan of160m2 plot of
land, this applied addition more than 200m2 allotted on lease base. Furthermore recently the
government adopts condominium approach of housing development.

Intervention Area
Many of the housing units especially which are found in Ganda 03 are without basic amenities such
as local roads, storm water ditches and sewerage facilities. And the illegal settlement areas need
planning intervention. As calculated from the existing land use map this land use accounts 28.16% of
the built up area and 47.6% of the urbanized land stock. When further reclassify pure residential
account 31.9% and mixed use 6.5%

5.1.3.3 Administration
Being Ambo town is the capital and sit of West Shewa Zone as well as the Ambo district
Administrations, this land use category include them in addition to the town administration. Most
zone and town administrative offices are concentrated in the town main centre. But due to the space
shortage and under capacity to accommodate all sect oral offices new administration office are
flourishing to the eastern side of the town. Out of these two locations only zone agriculture and CSA
branch offices exist to the west extreme of the town. This type of location creates inconvenience for
130
one-stop services particularly for the customers outside the town. On other hand the town Gandas is
foundered as figure 6.6 below:

Fig. 5.5: The existing Gandas border in the town

GENDA 03

GENDA 01 GENDA 02

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The town is divided in to three Gandas. Area as well as population wise there is big disparity between
the smallest and the largest Ganda. All of them lack appropriate location and enough plot of land to
provide the service needed at their level as per the standards and norms. Even Ganda 02 currently
does not have office building. The town administration and Ganda offices should be located and
organized with their expected packages of services with respect to the centrality of their spatial
extent. Its land share from the built up is 3.98% and 1.64% from the urbanized land stock as well.

5.1.3.4 Commerce and business

These activities are situated just west and east of Huluka Bridge, longitudinally crossed by the
highway and encompassing the areas of the Ethiopia Hotel with its thermal spring, commercial bank,
telecommunication and some commercial blocks. In the south it is limited by the palace compound,
further extending to the east along the highway up to the new zone justice office. Also it includes the
area just east of the Huluka Bridge extending about two hundred meters along the highway, and then
bending and stretched to the North West direction up to the general market place where most of the
commercial buildings, shops, and dwelling units are dense.

Fig. 5.6: The existing commerce and business site with some ugly area in the town

Masts of the structure

are dilapidated with
ideal plot of land.
Others like Jibat and
Mecha hotel has dead
frontage with ugly
fences, which
diminishes the
aesthetic value of the
town centre. Some of
them add their own
good value to the

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town, example Abebech Metaferia hotel and Ambo Ethiopia hotel. The newly emerging business
buildings are seen here and there along the asphalted road found under construction.

Fig. 5.7: The

existing situation of
the town centre
In general Ambo town
is a mono centered
town. This is the main

Centre
centre where most of
the daily activities take
place. The area
characterized by poor
quality, lack the
necessary services and
facilities as well as
lacks focus and
hierarchical
organization and locations as per the service order that provided. Also it needs additional functions
like cultural center, convention hall, cinema and theater hall and etc.

5.1.3.5 Market places

According to the existing land use survey, the town has only one general market, which located at
Arada/ to the north tip of the main centre/. Its inaccessibility to all parts of the town settlement
resulted to the emergency of other two informal mini market in the town, which located, One on
small space of Weliso Road side to the south and another near TVET of Ambo/ former Ambo
comprehensive high school/ at the road junction of the main road asphalted and collector to the west
side of the school. So, Secondary level markets are required in hierarchy where these services are
lacking or distant settlements. The main general market is a market type of which customers often
come to buy good for their day-to-day needs. Usually food items, clothes are included here.

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All the different types of market activities are mixed and have poor spaces so; the open market
should be treated and checked as per standard. There are three newly built but not functional covered
market blocks to the northern tip of the market. They are intended for micro and small-scale
enterprises. The other structures in the places are seriously deteriorated and need argent intervention.
Its land share from the built up is 6.68% and 3.23% from the urbanized land stock as well

5.1.4 Social and municipal services

5.1.4.1 Social services
Education: In the town one university college exist which located in the west part of the town. Its
current land holding is 10.2ha and 120ha newly allotted land for expansion at the eastern tip of the
town out of the current boundary. One technical and vocational college is also located at east and
south part of the town. In addition Plant science researches centre at the south with its nursery about
2.5185ha in the compound and 6.02ha farmland plus more than 14.94ha in adjoining areas out of the
compound.

Football training centre which is under construction by FIFA-has international standard located at the
eastern tip with land 1.2ha. Also One TEVT, One preparatory, One high school and Seven private
colleges distributed in different part of the town. During field survey in the town there are about
seven elementary schools, which are unevenly distributed through the town and their location also out
of standard.

High school including preparatory and TVET is located along Arterial road creates congestion in
relative to the town traffic and suffers from sound pollution. High school, preparatory and TVET
schools exist in one compound with insufficient area (below standard). Most of private schools
occupy small size of plots in relative to the service they provide. (From elementary to college
level)Research institute is occupied large plot of land and underutilized it; and it blocks the expansion
of the town toward the southeast.
Health: There are two existing and one under construction health institutions in Ambo. The general
hospital is located in the center of the town, where as the health center and the referral hospital,
which currently under construction is found at the western tip of the town. One newly under
construction of health centre is located at east tip. The general hospital is located on the main road

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with under standard plot of land. It is easily observed that additional health center is required for the
town.

5.1.4.2 Municipal services

Worship Places:
In Ambo town there are five Orthodox churches, Eyasus, Kidane Mihret, Micha‟el, Balawald and
Abbo.
One Muslim mosque located between the bank of Huluka and the open market
Eight sects of Protestant Religion followers and Catholic have their own worship places.
Cemetery:
Orthodox cemeteries in is combined with worship places i.e. in Eyasus church
One Protestants cemetery located on the main road on the prime land that has good attention for
investment and on other hands near to the fence of Ambo University to the western side.
Slaughterhouses: Municipality has one Slaughterhouse at the northern part of the town adjacent to
Huluka River at dawn stream. There is little residence surrounding the slaughterhouse from the
southern side. Has poor waste management system. They dispose the effluent and byproduct on open
field and to the river.
Waste disposal site: The town doesn‟t have both liquid and solid waste disposal site.
Manufacturing and storage
Low number of manufacturing, warehouses, and workshops
Three gypsum factories
One located at the southern part
One at the northern part and the other at the western tip of the town
Saw-machine at the eastern
One block factory at the downstream of Huluka River currently not functional
Abundant number of grain mill, which followed by oil-seed mill and wood and steel
workshops found mixed with the residential areas.

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5.1.5 Transport and Road network
Road network planning and proposals are a crucial aspect in a structure Plan. In case of Ambo town
all the minor and major networks were mapped from the satellite images and an updated network was
prepared. In the town the regular public transport line is only limited on the main road from Awaro
elementary school up to the University main gate. The other is the animal driven carts used for goods
transportation. No transport services like car parking and taxi terminals, fright terminals in the town.
The existing bus station has under standard area and courses for high traffic congestion in the area,
which simply imply the need of relocation.

5.1.5.1 Road network

On bird‟s eye view, one can observe that the town has a grid iron dominated pattern of roads and well
distributed access roads, but when a close look at the roads reveals that all are with problems like; the
grid don't end on to roads that collect the flow of traffic and make the circulation complete, except
the high way stretched across the town from east to west and the access roads are unnecessarily
extend to longer distances. As the result the comparatively higher importance of the major road
encouraged linear development of the town.

Road connection to all parts of the town gets difficulty due to the existing rivers and gullies, for
example the river Huluka segmented the town into two parts. These two parts of the town are
connected only by one bridge; as a result traffic congestion is usually created here.
There are no important lower hierarchies integrated with the high way. Therefore the highway
polarizes around itself all the basic elements that determine the existing structure of the town

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Fig. 5.8: The road network pattern

The road pattern of the town is a mix of

Grid iron, organic and oval radial pattern

The existing roads do not have uniformity /irregular/ on their width throughout their lengths, except
the highway. As calculated from the existing land use map this land use accounts 10.22% of the built
up area and 5.32% of the urbanized land stock.

Existing Road Network: Ambo town is built with a road network of different status (hierarchy),
such as length, density and accessibility. The below map is used to identify and locate all street in the
town under consideration.

Fig. 5.9: Existing road network of

Ambo town
The purpose of studying existing urban
road network is to assess the main
problem of the road regarding to
accessibility, connectivity, centrality, its
hierarchy, width, surfacing and others that

137
help for proper proposing and developing of new road network which shall provide hierarchy of
accesses, standards of carriageway, right-of-way, recommended level of surface finish, and road
geometry that minimize accident and traffic conflict.
Roads are means of communication that determine a development of one country. That means the
reformation, construction and an evenly distribution of any infrastructure throughout a country would
be depend on the accessibility of road network. This is very crucial in case of urban and towns
planning purpose. A properly planned (designed) and set out urban road network are base in
developing and distributing urban facility, allows an ease movement of people forming strong link
between one part of urban to other part, urban to rural, urban to urban that highly accelerate its
growth. So, the road network plan should provide hierarchy of accesses, standards of carriageway,
right-of-way, recommended level of surface finish, and road geometry that minimize accident and
traffic conflict.
5.1.5.2 Physical characteristics of the roads
Inter-town road network: There are different types of road that connect ambo to the hinterland. A
federal asphalted principal arterial road of Finfinne to Neqamte has a length of 330km and connects
ambo to the entire nearby and farthest town on the root. In the ambo town at present it has a 30m-
reserve width with 14.6m carriageway width, 1.5m pedestrian way widths at both side and other
remaining width is not properly surfaced to serve for any well mobility. It has no cycle lane. Other
graveled road that connects ambo to woliso has a length of 66km and 16m widths. The newly under
construction gravel road of Ambo to Nyamar have a length of 65km is to form strong link a rural
people on a root with ambo town.
There are also earthen street that connect ambo to the rural. Although their exact length is not known
it provides accessibility for the adjacent and remote population around the town. These include
Ambo-Goromti to southeast, Ambo-Boji to southwest, and Ambo-Xule to northeast and others are all
used as a local collector road for adjacent rural population of ambo town. It is earthen and gives
services only on foot mobility.

Intra-town road network: Even though all have their own problem the inner part of ambo is also
built with a road network having different hierarchy, surfacing condition, length and width, which
functional at present time. The present road density of the town comprises only 8% coverage that is
highly deviate from the standard of 15%-25% road network coverage. Even though the surfacing
condition is not proper, most of the collector and accessory roads are gravel surfacing without newly
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settled or expansion area. The only asphalt surfacing collector road is starting from Finfinne main
road around Jibat hotel to ambo agricultural research institute.
Some main problems associated with the road network
The present road space network capacity is badly constrained by poor quality and standard, shortage
of pedestrian‟s walkways, misuse of and encroachment on the available road space. The efficiency of
the present road network is also hindered by:
Erosion due to lack of proper drainage line
Narrowness of all arterial, collector and accessory road to accommodate all motor,
pedestrian and others was forming traffic congestion in the town.
Lack of continuity and proper maintenance of existing roads
Lack freight terminal for any type of car
Poor surfacing
Improper cross section and joining of a road at junction;
Improper setting out of the road as per previous plan on the ground
Some recommendation
Design (plan) efficient road network of each hierarchy providing sufficient space as per standard:
Consider continuity of the road and improper meeting at a junction
The planned road network should be set out properly
A roadside drainage ditch shall be constructed as per design
A recommendable surface finish shall be provided
Any constraint on the road should be removed.
Consider the bus and freight terminals
Consider the trend of traffic intensity and anticipate for the planning period
Consider sufficient rooms for pedestrian walk way and bikeway.
5.1.6 Recreation
One open place in front of the shower room of Ethiopia hotel in Ambo reserved for Orthodox
Church cultural ceremonies. Once in a year followers gather at these points.
Open space: Two playgrounds, sport centre/one stadium/ are the only existing in Ambo. Ethiopia
hotel and its swimming pool with its thermal spring facility Is the only recreation site in the town.
Mi‟esa and Senkele Farisi hills, Teltele and Huluka Waterfalls with their forest and beautiful scenic
view are some important recreational potential that are not taped.

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 No city park and garden
No standardized sport fields
Lack of playgrounds
As calculated from the existing land use map this land use accounts 4.4% of the built up area and
1.89% of the urbanized land stock.
5.1.7 Urban agriculture
The town has the fertile ground for urban agriculture activities while the existing situation is not as
such because currently there are:
One poultry farm in the western tip of the town,
One private dairy farming adjacent to the plant research centre,
Some seasonal land farming and
Few in house cattle fattening, and horticulture
Presently, there is insignificant urban agriculture activities are taking place around particularly on the
upper stream of Huluka River and few of them on Teltele River. As calculated from the existing land
use map this land use accounts 0% of the built up area and 17.47% of the urbanized land stock.
5.1.8 Forest
Few bushes and forest particularly eucalypts tree are seen on Measa and Senkele hills and at the
edges of Huluka and Teltele Rivers. In contrary to these areas, significant green area cover is
observed in private compounds, hotels, place, Churches; university and in the compound of brick
factory and its adjutant area given for protestant college at the dawn stream of Huluka. The recent
plantation on the main asphalted road shall be strengthening.
As calculated from the existing land use map this land use accounts 0% of the built up area and
8.73% of the urbanized land stock.
5.1.9 Special function
This land use category incorporates the areas like buffers, historical sites, reserved areas vacant lands,
conservation areas, water body, marshland, rocky areas and etc. As calculated from the existing land
use map this land use accounts 0% of the built up area and 49.4% of the urbanized land stock.

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5.2 Proposed spatial and land use classification
5.2.1 Synthesized land use of the structure plan
5.2.1.1 Housing
As shown on the land use proposal map the built up areas and proposed expansion areas are
designated for housing. In both cases, except for major services that are indicated in the structure plan
the remaining required services will be provided based on the norms and standards, regulations and
directives issued for the implementation of structure plan. Housing and social services are considered
together at different levels are proposed within the housing settlement areas.
Regarding the built up areas, improvement of deteriorated housing and infrastructure at the town core
is proposed. Together with this the issue of ownership and tenure is proposed to be treated. The
unhealthy density and over crowdedness at the core is proposed to be reduced. The redevelopment of
centers and deteriorated housing areas are proposed to be integrated and considered together for
better implementation and management.
New housing development areas are proposed at periphery areas predominantly to the east and
southern part of the town. Vacant areas within the town boundary are also proposed to be used for
new housing construction but parts of them are reserved for unforeseen developments or as
contingency for housing and other uses. Thus calculation of expansion area has focused on the
periphery areas. The total area to be developed within the coming 10 years planning period is 1254ha.
Fig. 5.10: Proposed housing
expansion site
Prohibited
=Large scale industries and stores
=Military camp and ammunition
storages
=Universities and colleges,
=Cemeteries,
=Treatment plants and landfills,
= transport terminals,
=Quarries,
Hospital and stadium
Allowed
-All types of developments
-Education services from KG to secondary
schools,
-Health services from health post to health centers,

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-Neighborhood market /gulit and shoping/
-Small and medium scale manufacturing and storage
-Recreation and entertainment centers
-Administration, business and worships

As indicated above this area caters for land requirement of housing related facilities and services and
also other compatible uses, within this scheme the issues of informal and illegal housing are
recommended to be treated through tailor made solutions. Nearby farmers settlements are proposed to
be integrated in the town and managed from the outset to sustain their livelihood and also curb the
proliferation of illegal settlements particularly in the areas of farmers settlement which abused by
black land market dealers or which are called „delala‟ in the local name. The proposals are targeting
at bringing compacted development as much as possible and practicable in view of the local climatic
conditions.
5.2.1.2 Centers and market places
A. Centers
The main aim of centers and market places study is to bringing about well equipped and up to
standard centers with required packages of services organized hierarchically. Services are
decentralized and their distributions are balanced and equitable. The size and location of the centers
is proposed to facilitate smooth development in line with the administrative restructuring of the town.
The number of centers for Ambo town is determined based on the theory and experience of other
urban centers. Catchments radius of centers and sub centers is considered to bring about functional
and efficient centers. Centrality and its relationship with regarding of urban areas and basket of
services are also considered. Based on:
One main centre at the town core
Secondary sub-centers
Tertiary centers are proposed

Fig. 5.11: Proposed centers and market areas

Prohibited
Large scale industries and storages
Military camp and ammunition stores
Cemeteries, treatment plants and fills
Quarries

Allowed
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 Shops
Market places
Centers of different hierarchies
Administrative uses
Banks and insurances

Main centre: An area covering 200ha is proposed to be main centre of Ambo. The government
offices, services and business establishments within the town core are incorporated in the centre.
Integrated renewal and upgrading that focuses on land use reorganization is proposed to be
undertaken at the town main centre. Development of the main centre should be managed separately
for efficient facilitated realization of the proposals.
Secondary centers: Four sub centers located between expansions and built up areas, at nodal points
near the FIFA football training centre at the east, at the immediate of Teltele River to the western
side, near the technical college at the southern side on Woliso road and near Aleltu steam of the
northern part are proposed. They consist of packages of services, trade, administrative, sport fields,
handicrafts, and other uses.

Tertiary centers: Gullies and shopping areas with necessary package services at ganda level will be
proposed during the LDP preparation based on norms, standards and regulations.

B. Market places
Primary market place: Arada gebeya and the corridor between the main roads up to Arada are
proposed to be main market area. In addition one cattle market is proposed to the north east of the
town
Secondary market places: Four secondary or minimarkets are proposed to be developing at the sub
centers.
Tertiary market places: Expected to be developed in the neighborhoods in the form of gulits within
the standards and norms when the local development plan will be prepared.
5.2.1.3 Social services
Location of social services is integrated with the hierarchy and size of centers. The existing university
college assumed to be up graded to university so the referral hospital, which currently under

143
construction will be assumed to be the teaching hospital of the university. Because of this assumption
the expansion land is reserved for it in addition to the newly allotted 200ha of land for expansion at
the eastern side of the town. In addition to these;
Additional land is reserved around the newly under construction referral hospital by envisioning that
it will be serve as the teaching referral hospital with health faculty when Ambo university realized.

Fig. 5.12: Existing and proposed social services in the town

Social services are including the existing and the proposed:

 Secondary school
 Health centre

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  Cultural centre
 Sport centre
 Worship places and cemeteries
 Waste disposal site (liquid and solid)
Waste disposal site proposed in the northwest of the town and municipal cemeteries are proposed to
be developed in different parts of the town. The selection of sites for these was based on appropriate
criteria from the standard, consultation and discussion with the concerned bodies. Equitability,
efficiency, centrality, accessibility are adopted as the main principles.
Ambo University College proposed to incorporate the residential areas that existed surrounding its
fence which pollute the university in many aspects with appropriate compensation and relocation of
the residents without affecting their livelihood.
5.2.1.4 Manufacturing and storage
The location of terminals and port is considered in the selection of sites for manufacturing and
storages. Sites that are proposed for manufacturing are included in the proposals.

Fig. 5.13: The proposed manufacturing and storage site

In the figure 5.10 the site
proposed to manufacturing and
storage is indicating that the
heave one accordingly. While
the town should be take in to
consideration about its
pollutant or no pollutants
during permitted.
The location and distribution of
small scale industries will be
decided when the local
development plan (LDP) would
be prepared based on the norms, standards and regulations.

5.2.1.5 Transport and Road network

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Transport: The existing bus station is proposed to relocate to the Ethiopia Road Authority (ERA)
compound. New rail way line and rail station is proposed to the east south of the town because the
federal government has a plan to build the serves from the centre to the western part of the country,
by this the town Ambo will be one of the main depot areas due to its location with respect to the sub
region. In addition two fright terminals also proposed in the west and east side of the town.

Road network: The proposals framed on the above analysis were establishing an efficient road
network structure plan along with traffic studies. Identifying road links for widening based on the
built up intensities and proposing alignment of the new road links in a manner that they were taken
through open areas and avoiding water bodies and channels. Improvement of the existing network,
and development of streets in the expansion areas are the two main components of the road network
proposal. Ring, radial and grid road network are adopted as the main pattern of development.

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Fig. 5:14: the proposed road network in the town

The following streets are proposed in built-up area and expansion areas based on standards for
spacing.
Principal Arterial streets (30-50m)
Main Arterial streets (20-30m)
Collector streets (12-20m)
Local streets (6-12m)
Railway line and inland port proposed the stretched east to southwest side of the town

5.2.1.6 Environment
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Highly degraded areas like:
Huluka, Aleltu, Debis and Teltele River banks as well as their tributary streams
Senkele faris ridge
Mi‟esa ridge
Upper land of Awwaro Kora and Muja stream lines and,
Protection zone for Ambo Mineral Water Factory input ground water, which exists between the
factory compound and Mi‟esa hill from the North West are proposed to be rehabilitated and
afforested. Related and compatible development should be included through supporting norms,
standards and regulations.
Fig. 5.15: The proposed environmental site in the area

Open spaces, parks and green areas are proposed in hierarchical system. Areas beside the research
institute toward the east are allocated for horticulture activities. Other locations suitable for urban
agriculture are also indicated and proposed in different locations. Highly dissected areas in the
northeast, southeast and west sides are proposed to be rehabilitated. Quarry activities shall be
regulated based on future detail environmental study, but in the structure plan the site simply reserved
at two sites, one in the west and other in the south west on the up stream of Teltele River bank
particularly for gravel production.

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Fig. 5.16: The Synthesis structure plan of the town

149
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