Government Tests Technology That Could Cut Road and Housing Construction Costs

What the report says

Uganda is evaluating a soil-stabilisation technology that could lower the cost of road and housing construction by turning locally available soil into a more durable building material. According to Nile Post, the proposal was presented to State Minister for Finance (Planning) Amos Lugoloobi and National Planning Authority chairperson Prof Pamela Mbabazi during a meeting with Yosef Atoon, chief executive officer and founder of I-TEC-WIZYMTEC Technologies Ltd, an Indian investor.

The technology reportedly uses an enzyme to strengthen soil at construction sites, which could reduce the need to buy and transport gravel, murram and other materials from far away. Government officials said the idea is being considered, but they stressed that any wider adoption would depend on independent technical validation under Ugandan conditions. The assessment is expected to cover performance, cost-effectiveness, engineering standards, environmental impact, scalability, local content and technology transfer.

Lugoloobi said government would not move to large-scale deployment without evidence, while Mbabazi welcomed the prospect of lower infrastructure costs and linked it to Uganda’s broader development goals under the Fourth National Development Plan. If the technology proves reliable, it could potentially allow existing infrastructure budgets to stretch further and support more projects.

The report adds that any future rollout would likely begin with pilot projects, giving officials local data on durability, safety and cost before deciding on broader use. The proposal arrives as Uganda looks for ways to build infrastructure more efficiently amid pressure on public finances.