Housing expo to promote cheaper, sustainable homes – Namuganza

The Government is seeking to promote innovative and affordable housing solutions through the second edition of the Uganda Real Estate and Housing Expo (UREHE), scheduled for September 25-26 at Kingdom Kampala Gardens.

The two-day expo, organised by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in partnership with Douglas Events Ltd and the Uganda Society of Architects, will bring together government agencies, real estate investors, developers, financial institutions, professionals and housing consumers.

State Minister for Housing Princess Persis Namuganza said the expo would provide a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, showcase new technologies and explore practical solutions to Uganda’s housing challenges.

The event will be held under the theme, “Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Housing.”

Namuganza said Uganda’s estimated housing deficit of 2.48 million units required stakeholders to explore alternatives to conventional construction methods.

She said the expo would focus on innovative housing designs, construction technologies, materials and financing models that can reduce the cost and time of delivering houses.

“The expo presents a strategic platform to foster dialogue, showcase innovation and unlock strategic pathways to deliver affordable housing for all Ugandans,” Namuganza said.

The event will also provide opportunities for developers and investors to exhibit housing products and investment opportunities, while financial institutions will showcase financing solutions for prospective homeowners and developers.

The ministry said the expo would further promote climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable housing in response to challenges such as flooding, poor drainage and heat stress.

It comes at a time when Uganda’s rapidly growing urban population is putting increasing pressure on land, infrastructure and social services, creating a need for efficient land use and orderly urban development.

The Government says it has implemented several policies, laws and programmes to improve the housing and urban development sector.

These include the National Housing Policy, 2016, which provides the framework for housing development, and the National Urban Policy, 2017, which guides the management of urbanisation.

The Physical Planning Act, 2010, and its amendments have declared the whole country a planning area to support orderly spatial development.

The Condominium Property Act, 2001, provides for vertical housing developments, particularly in urban areas, while the Landlord and Tenant Act, 2022, provides a framework for relations between landlords and tenants.

The ministry has also operationalised 23 ministerial zonal offices, bringing land services, valuation and physical planning services closer to the public.

Other initiatives include the operationalisation of energy-efficiency guidelines for buildings, establishment of the National Urban Fora and implementation of the National Physical Development Plan IV to guide spatial and human settlement development.

The ministry is also preparing to start implementation of the Uganda Cities and Municipal Infrastructure Development Programme.

Members of the public attending the expo will receive free land title search services at the ministry’s exhibition stall.

Namuganza said the expo would strengthen partnerships between Government, the private sector and professional bodies in addressing Uganda’s housing needs while promoting orderly and sustainable urban growth.