VP ALUPO | HOMES | CONSTRUCTION 

KAMPALA - Vice President Jessica Alupo has said Uganda needs an effective and efficient infrastructure to support its economic growth, poverty eradication, social development and competition in global market.

“As you very well know, no economy of a country can stand without proper infrastructure,” she said at Danube Home Uganda Designer Furniture Store in Kampala, Friday.

She was officiating at the closing ceremony of Vision Group’s first-ever Homes and Construction Expo (virtual edition) that was launched on November 22.

The Expo was under the theme, “New technologies and sustainable solutions in the Homes and Construction sector.”  

Alupo said this theme is pertinent to underscore the role of infrastructure in the national economy and its multiplier effects on improving social/economic development.

“I note with satisfaction that in the past 35 years, Ugandans in general and our government, in particular, have made big strides in infrastructure development. Due to a conducive environment and investor confidence, local and foreign investors have turned our urban skylines into skyscrapers,” she said.

She stated that several rural habitats are also dotted with corrugated iron sheet houses and numerous road arteries have also been opened up to spurn all corners of this country.

“We must, nevertheless, acknowledge that there is quite a long way to go, especially in the areas of proper planning and strategic location of our infrastructure. That is why this Expo is timely in that experts in this sector have had a rare opportunity to interact, compare notes, appreciate one another and map out strategies to improve this sector,” she said.

The Vice President also said the participants have not only been at the Expo to display their wear and products, but their other objective was to extend the frontiers of their markets, to acquire new ideas, make new friends, get to know what their customers want and display the latest state of the art technology and knowledge.

Serious work

She also noted that while this ceremony marked the end of this Expo, they should now embark on serious work in this construction industry. 

“Uganda’s construction rate must match our population growth which, at over 3% per annum is one of the highest in the world. Increased urbanization causes, among other things, increased energy consumption, need for more construction materials and infrastructure development,” Alupo said.

She reminded the participants that the construction sector is one of the most important segments of Uganda’s gross domestic product, which needs everyone’s support and appreciation.

“The government will, therefore, continue to provide a conducive policy and legal framework that will enable the private sector to play its role in the construction industry and infrastructure development,” she said.

Alupo strongly hoped that the Home & Construction Expo continues to offer all stakeholders in this industry opportunity to interact and get invaluable information on the current developments and trends in the construction industry.

“It is my conviction, therefore, that we are leaving this Expo more enriched than when we came in. Finally, I thank all the participants who have spared time for this function. In a similar breath, I thank the organizers who enabled this function to take place,” she said.

COVID-19 restrictions

During the launch of the Expo, Don Wanyama, the Vision Group CEO, said given the restrictions of COVID-19 that have been in effect since the pandemic hit the globe and Uganda, there has been a restriction on live events.

However, he said the events team at Vision Group made effort to set up virtual events to meet the needs of the audiences.

He said the housing deficit in Uganda calls for a conversation on employment opportunities, decent wages, availability of disposable income to enable Ugandans to buy or build decent homes.

He thanked the sponsors of the Expo, Comfort Homes, Tile Centre, Danube, and Hima Cement for partnering with Vision group and promised an exciting show.

The Homes and Construction expo has been airing live on all Vision group TV channels from 9.00- 11.00 am.