The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development on Friday, September 25, opened the second edition of the Real Estate and Housing Expo, bringing together key players to explore innovative solutions to Uganda’s housing challenges.
Held at Kingdom Kampala Gardens, the two-day expo, running from September 25–26, is being conducted under the theme “Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Housing.”
The event was officially opened by Commissioner Dave Khayangayanga the Director of the Directorate of Housing in the Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development who represented the State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Persis Namuganza.
The expo is focusing on affordability, sustainability, technology and proptech, with property developers, investors, financial institutions, government agencies, architects, planners, construction companies and members of the public in attendance.
“We are gathered here to adopt solutions aimed at delivering affordable housing products for all income categories,” Commissioner David said.
The event comes as Uganda grapples with a housing deficit estimated at about 2.48 million units.
“The national housing deficit at about 2.48 million housing units, a gap which cannot be closed through conventional construction approaches alone, hence the need for innovative solutions and deliver housing faster, cheaper and at scale,” partly reads the minister’s message.
Namuganza also emphasised that government will soon begin addressing old and unfit buildings along major streets, starting with Kampala, while enforcing physical planning requirements.
“We are no longer going to allow houses that are being constructed squeezing one another, leaving just a narrow gap in-between,” she said.
Government will also explore public-private partnerships for property owners unable to finance redevelopment.
“We need better planning, stronger partnerships, new sources of finance and responsible investment,” Namuganza said.
The expo, organised by the ministry in partnership with Douglas Events Limited and the Uganda Society of Architects, is also showcasing affordable construction technologies, housing finance models, land-access information and climate-resilient development.
Namuganza further said the ministry is preparing a Cabinet Paper to standardise and test building materials following concerns over substandard materials used in some collapsing buildings.
