Uganda joins the global community on Monday, 5th October 2026 to commemorate World Habitat Day through a high-level National Housing Dialogue at Hotel Africana, Kampala.
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1985, World Habitat Day is observed on the first Monday of every October. The day serves as a global reminder of our collective responsibility to the human habitat and the basic right to adequate shelter. This year, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Uganda and other sector leaders to host the dialogue under the theme: “Adequate Housing for All.”
Hon. Persis Namuganza State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development says the dialogue brings together top government officials, international heads of organizations, cultural leaders, real estate developers, financiers, manufacturers, and regulators.
“The goal is to address Uganda’s urban housing shortages, basic service gaps, and climate challenges, which heavily impact informal settlements.
Because government cannot bridge the housing gap alone, this event champions a stronger, collaborative sector-wide partnership,”he stated.
Tasked with strengthening physical planning, land management, and enforcing development standards for orderly urban growth the minister stressed that the Private sectors and financers must drive investment in cost-effective innovations and create accessible housing finance products tailored to Ugandan households, including those with informal incomes.
Tasked with unlocking catalytic financing, policy innovations, and climate-resilient approaches Namuganza asked acamedia and research institutions to contribute new technologies, skills, and locally appropriate construction materials.
“The Civil Society & Communities are essential for keeping the voices of vulnerable populations at the center of housing policies and acting as active partners in designing solutions,”she stressed.
Dvis Kayangayanga Uganda’s current housing deficit stands at an estimated 2.4 million to 2.6 million housing units, driven by rapid urbanisation and high population growth.
According to findings from the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the crisis leaves roughly 60% of Ugandans living in inadequate housing or informal settlements .The country requires 300,000 new units annually to keep pace with growth.
The formal sector only produces about 60,000 units per year leaving net shortfall of annual gap of 240,000 to 284,000 units. Projections indicate that the overall deficit could swell to 4.5 million units by 2035 if left unchecked
Dave Khayangayanga Acting Director of the Housing Directorate said the National Housing Dialogue will provide a venue to showcase innovative solutions for accessible, inclusive, and decent housing.
“Th National dialogue is a platform to tackle cross-cutting issues, including gender and youth engagement in the housing sector,an environment for sharing global best practices in affordable housing delivery and a framework to build public-private partnerships that develop technologies to eliminate the housing shortage,”he explained.
The Government of Uganda urges all stakeholders—including local governments, the private sector, community organizations, and the general public—to use this occasion to reflect on our housing delivery systems, eliminate market bottlenecks, and plan for a more resilient and equitable urban future.
