Bride and Groom Expo
Your first home starts with one smart step
In tandem with the Bride & Groom Expo theme, Beyond I Do: A Journey of Love, Home and Family, property and housing experts said mindset is delaying home ownership for many people.
Panel discussion on affordable homes, featuring experts, Susan from Paragon Investment Club, Lillian Nabisere Housing Finance Bank, Relationship Manager Home Loans and Bale
By: Richard Ategeka, Journalist @New Vision
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For many young Ugandans, owning a home feels like a dream reserved for the wealthy. Rising land prices, expensive building materials and limited savings have convinced many that they must first become rich before thinking about buying a home.
In tandem with the Bride & Groom Expo theme, Beyond I Do: A Journey of Love, Home and Family, property and housing experts said mindset is delaying home ownership for many people.
They encouraged young couples and individuals to start with what they can afford, whether that is an apartment, a jointly purchased plot of land or a gradual home-building plan.
Gillian Ashaba, a sales executive, Fakruddin Properties
According to Suzan Patricia Adrabo, sales and marketing executive at Fakhruddin Properties Uganda, home ownership is no longer limited to people who can immediately build standalone houses. “Even if you don’t own a bungalow, you can still own a home,” she said.
Adrabo explained that condominium apartments are becoming an affordable entry point into the property market because buyers receive ownership documents while enjoying shared facilities such as security, parking, swimming pools and other amenities. “You own your apartment, receive a title and enjoy facilities that would cost far more if you built a standalone home,” she said.
Fakhruddin Properties Uganda currently has condominium developments in Ntinda, Najjera, Bugolobi, Kiwatule and Naguru, with two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments available. The average entry price is about sh250m, but buyers can spread payments over three to four years. “We also offer interest-free payment plans directly with the developer, mortgage financing and even group purchase options,” Adrabo said.
Strength in collective investment
For those who feel that apartment ownership is beyond their reach, Florence Nambooze Bbaale, a surveyor, lecturer and founder of Paragon Investment Club, said collective investment is enabling many Ugandans to buy land they could not afford individually. “Investment groups and associations make it easier for members to purchase larger pieces of land at better prices,” she said.
She added that collective ownership also creates opportunities for larger developments while ensuring members’ interests are legally protected. “The land title clearly reflects ownership and defines boundaries, giving members security over their investment.”
Build at your own pace
Lillian Nabisere, a relationship manager for Home Loans at Housing Finance Bank, said one of the biggest misconceptions is that people must have all the money before they can begin building. “No one builds a house all at once. Build gradually,” she advised.
Nabisere encouraged aspiring homeowners to secure land first and then develop it in phases according to their income and financial capacity. “If you don’t have land, we can finance its purchase first. Once you own it, you tell us about the home you dream of, and we help you build that dream.”
She added that financing is tailored to individual incomes, with loan options ranging from about sh200,000 to sh50m, making home ownership more accessible to a wider range of Ugandans.
Sponsored by Pepsi, Bella Wines and Looks Bespoke, in partnership with Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Oppein Uganda and Roke Telecom, the expo brings together property developers, financial institutions and other experts to help couples and families plan for every stage of life. Their message was unanimous: home ownership does not begin with millions in the bank. It begins with informed decisions, careful planning and taking one achievable step at a time.
For many young couples preparing for marriage - and for individuals planning their future - that first step may be closer than they think.
Lillian Nabisere, a relationship manager for Home Loans at Housing Finance Bank, said one of the biggest misconceptions is that people must have all the money before they can begin building. “No one builds a house all at once. Build gradually,” she advised.
Nabisere encouraged aspiring homeowners to secure land first and then develop it in phases according to their income and financial capacity. “If you don’t have land, we can finance its purchase first. Once you own it, you tell us about the home you dream of, and we help you build that dream.”
She added that financing is tailored to individual incomes, with loan options ranging from about sh200,000 to sh50m, making home ownership more accessible to a wider range of Ugandans.
Sponsored by Pepsi, Bella Wines and Looks Bespoke, in partnership with Sheraton Kampala Hotel, Oppein Uganda and Roke Telecom, the expo brings together property developers, financial institutions and other experts to help couples and families plan for every stage of life. Their message was unanimous: home ownership does not begin with millions in the bank. It begins with informed decisions, careful planning and taking one achievable step at a time.
For many young couples preparing for marriage - and for individuals planning their future - that first step may be closer than they think.