State Minister for Lands,Housing and Urban Development Persis Namuganza has challenged Architects to lead in the promotion of proper physical planning in urban areas before any construction project begins.
“People should consider the neighbourhood before building. Commercial buildings should not be mixed with residential developments. Uganda needs proper physical planning, and housing has always been a priority in the NRM manifesto,” she said.
Speaking at the Architects Nstional Dialogue on the theme “Tracking Housing Commitments in the National Budget.” Namuganza called for stronger government and stakeholder action to address Uganda’s housing deficit of 2.4 million units saying effective implementation of budget commitments is critical to improve access to decent and affordable housing.
She further urged banks to review their loan recovery practices and desist from seizing properties of their loan defaulters.
“People need longer repayment periods and improved financial literacy. Loan defaults have contributed to family breakdowns, health challenges and even deaths,” Namuganza stated.
Uganda Society of Architects President, Architect Kenneth Amunsimire, pledged to work with government to address unethical conduct in the profession and adhere to proper set physical urban building standards to accelerate modern development
“Housing is one of the five pillars of development. Ministry of Finance,Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, National Planning Authority, engineers, financial institutions and Civil Society should ensure that housing remains a national priority and that the current deficit of 2.4 million housing units is reduced,” he said.
Amunsimire however expressed concern over the growing number of unregistered practitioners operating in the profession.
According to him only 410 architects are currently registered despite many having studied architecture.
“We urge the public to always engage registered architects or seek guidance from the Society to avoid falling victim to fraudsters and substandard construction,” Amunsimire warned.
Deputy Secretary to Treasury Ministry of Finance, Patrick Ochaila pledged to upgrade informal settlements such as Kivulu and Namugongo, and actualise Mortagage Finance for the Urban dwellers to build houses
According to Ochaila housing will play a critical role in Uganda’s ambition of growing the economy to US$500 billion by 2040.
National Planning Authority Executive Director Dr Joseph Muvawala urged Ugandans to prioritise decent housing, describing it as a key driver of social and economic transformation.
Habitat for Humanity Uganda Advocacy Manager Paul Mayende appealed to government to lower taxes on building materials, particularly affordable products such as 32-gauge iron sheets, to make decent housing more accessible to low-income households.
