Government urges adoption of global innovations to tackle housing challenges

What the report says

Nile Post reported that Uganda’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development is urging the housing and construction sector to draw on international building innovations, while tailoring them to Uganda’s conditions. The call was made in Kampala ahead of the BuildCon International Expo, where Commissioner for Human Settlements David Khayangayanga said technologies such as energy-efficient buildings and digital land information systems could help respond to rising housing and infrastructure demands.

According to the report, the three-day BuildCon International Expo is scheduled for August 6 to 8 and is expected to host more than 100 exhibitors from Uganda and several other countries, including India, China, Kenya, France, Turkey, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. The event will showcase construction technologies and create a platform for government, businesses and industry professionals to discuss approaches that can be adapted locally.

The ministry also plans to use the expo to raise public awareness about policies and laws guiding the sector, including the National Housing Policy, National Urban Policy, Physical Planning Act, Condominium Property Act and the Digital Land Information System. Khayangayanga said the ministry would present guidelines and interventions aimed at improving performance in housing and urban development.

Nile Post framed the ministry’s position against examples from countries that have adopted modern construction methods, including prefabrication, modular building, Building Information Modelling, smart buildings and energy-efficient designs. The policy issue matters because Uganda faces growing pressure to expand housing and infrastructure while managing urban growth sustainably.