Kumi HIV/AIDS orphaned children get free housing

Jan 19, 2017

“I could not afford to build a house. I prayed that God would send a Good Samaritan to help. Indeed, my payer was answered in 2015..."

Stella Akurut is a mother of seven, living in Kumi district in eastern Uganda. Her husband passed on years ago and since then she has been struggling with accommodation. The family lived in grass-thatched hut that was on its knees, threatening to cave in any minute.

"I could not afford to build a house. I prayed that God would send a Good Samaritan to help. Indeed, my payer was answered in 2015. I was approached by a group of members from Habitat for Humanity Uganda (HFHU) who was registering widows with orphans. I was was selected and today I am going to live in a decent house," Akurut stresses.

The excited Akurut noted that now her children will sleep comfortably in their rooms.

Akurut's was one of the 55 families in Kumi district with an average of six children per household who are orphaned by HIV/AIDS, poverty stricken child-headed families, widowed caregivers and children affected by domestic violence who got free houses recently.

According to Gilbert Omeda, the vulnerable group housing manger HFHU, most times children are crowded in one room which triples as a bedroom, store and kitchen. These living conditions expose families to health risks such as respiratory tract infections, frequent disease outbreak and transmission, social and psychological distress.

"A nation cannot prosper unless her people can afford to live in decent homes, prevent disease and be financially-stable," he explains.

Dr David Dronyi, the board chair HFHU, said the programme in Kumi started in 2009. The mode of selection was based on vulnerability of the families and poor shelter conditions.

"Our target was families living under leaking roofs, mud floors, affected by HIV; we also look at income levels of the family and availability of land. The houses cost 20m to construct. There is still tremendous need for housing and the grants we have cannot cover all the need," he noted.

Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the state minister for Housing, noted that that the quality of houses that that were provided were to the standards calling upon the users to ensure that they use them for the required need.

r hris aryomunsi tate inister for ousing being welcomed by widows in umi districtDr Chris Baryomunsi, State Minister for Housing being welcomed by widows in Kumi district

 


"There are many people in Uganda who need decent accommodation. As government we shall continue to work with partners and agencies to see that all Ugandans have decent shelter," he noted.

The minister added that "we have written a policy on national housing and passed and it seeks to promote progressive realisation of adequate housing for all and is premised on the principle of partnership, involving the Ministry on behalf of Government, the Private sector, Land owner's, financial institutions, cooperatives and individuals," he noted.

According to the Uganda National Housing Policy, it is estimated that Uganda has about 7.3 million households living in 6.2 million housing units with an average household size of 4.7 persons. The national occupancy density is estimated at 1.1 household per housing unit, giving a total backlog of 710,000 housing units.

The report also estimates a backlog of 900,000 housing units as a result of sub-standard houses and structures which were never meant for human habitation. Out of a total backlog of 1.6 million housing units, about 210,000 units are in urban areas while 1.395 million units are in rural areas.

The annual need for new housing for the entire country is estimated at 200,000 housing units of which 135,000 are in rural and 65,000 in urban areas resulting from the population growth of 3.2% and 5.1%urbanisation.

The estimated construction rate of reasonably good houses is estimated at 40,000 units in the rural areas and 20,000 in urban areas. This creates a deficit of 140,000 houses nationally of which 95,000 are in rural areas and 45,000 in urban areas. This shortage does not include the backlog of 1,600,000 housing units carried forward.

By 2022, Uganda's population is projected to be about 45 million people. With the current household size of five (5) persons, the housing need resulting from population growth will be about three million housing units.

It is estimated that during the lifespan of this policy, about 500,000 housing units will be replaced while about 300,000 housing units will be upgraded. This is premised on the fact that the Ugandan society is characterised by a poor repair and maintenance culture of their houses leading to a high rate of deterioration requiring upgrading or replacement.

 

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