Under the theme“Global Innovation, Local Solutions: Shaping the future of Building & Construction in Uganda” Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in partnership with Buildcon and her funders Exhibition and Trade Services India PVT (ETSIPL), FUTUREX and Lanestra Enterprises (U) Ltd will hold the 5th Edition of Uganda Buildcon International Expo from 6th to Saturday 8thAugust, 2026 at Multi-Purpose Hall, UMA Showgrounds,Lugogo in Kampala.
According to State Minister for Lands and Housing Persis Namuganza,this theme is relevant to the global as well as Uganda’s vibrant construction sector which is positioned to address local challenges with global solutions.
“In the current global economy, individuals and companies must be strategic to address local construction challenges,”she stated.
“This Expo’s theme rallies both the international and local community to identify international solutions and localise as well as harmonise them to address todays construction challenges,”she stressed.
She said the 5th Edition of Uganda Buildcon International Exhibition will focus on architecture, construction, building materials, engineering, innovation, interior designs, building automation, heavy equipment, construction machinery, prefabricated structures, safety, security and solar products, infrastructure software and tools among others.
“The trade show scheduled to take place at the UMA show grounds Kampala Uganda brings together both International and National players in different spheres of construction industries to showcase innovations and sustainability in the housing and construction sector. The show is therefore timely when Uganda is implementing the National Development Plan (NDPIV) and registering a boom in the construction and real estate sectors where the issues of sustainability are critical,”Namuganza emphasized.
She further said that the expo will address innovative ways such as managing the policy challenges of high-tech technologies;closing the technological gaps,and fostering of technological progress and make it sustainable
The theme for this year calls upon all industry players to put global innovative technologies at the centre of construction through awareness, promoting innovative approaches as well as building sustainable solutions in the construction and housing industry
During the three days event,the Ministry laf lands and urban development will showcase and disseminate a number of policies, Guidelines, measures and interventions geared towards improving the performance of the sector:
Uganda faces a massive housing deficit of over 2.4 million units, driven by rapid population growth, high construction costs, and limited affordable financing
As Uganda confronts a staggering 2.4 million housing deficit amid rapid urbanisation, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni signed three major laws aimed at tightening construction standards, expanding mortgage financing and professionalising property valuation.
The legislation was assented to on February 19, 2026, at State House Entebbe, in what government officials describe as a decisive step toward stabilising a sector under mounting pressure. Uganda’s urban population is growing at roughly 5% annually, swelling cities such as Kampala and intensifying demand for affordable housing. Yet only about 60,000 new units are built each year against annual demand estimated between 210,000 and 300,000 units.
The deficit, including more than 200,000 units in urban areas and nearly 1.4 million in rural communities, could balloon to 4.5 million by 2035 if current trends persist. Analysts estimate that up to 96% of Ugandans cannot afford the average formal-sector home.
At the heart of the reforms is the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2025, which strengthens penalties for illegal construction and mandates stricter inspections to curb substandard structures. Uganda’s construction boom has long been marred by safety lapses and frequent building collapses, exposing weak enforcement and widespread informality.
Officials say the amendments build on the 2013 Building Control Act but introduce sharper enforcement tools and accountability measures. “This isn’t just about fines; it’s about saving lives in our exploding cities,” a government spokesperson said, referencing growing risks in densely populated and in some cases earthquake-prone areas.
Authorities hope the law will help address the estimated 900,000 substandard housing units nationwide by enforcing modern building codes and tightening compliance. Unlocking Mortgage Finance The Mortgage Refinance Institutions Act, 2025 seeks to tackle a deeper structural problem: limited access to long-term housing finance.
Under the new law, the Bank of Uganda will regulate mortgage refinance institutions to enable them to provide longer-term liquidity to primary lenders. By refinancing mortgage portfolios for at least five years, the framework aims to expand credit access and lower borrowing costs.
Mortgage lending in Uganda currently accounts for less than 1% of GDP, far below regional peers, largely due to high interest rates and short loan tenors. “Long-term financing is the key to turning renters into owners,” Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said, noting that the reform aligns with broader public finance safeguards.
Analysts say the move could stimulate private-sector construction and align Uganda with broader continental growth trends under trade frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, which are expected to boost regional investment flows.
