One of the strengths of Uganda’s construction industry is its growing professionalism. Professional associations such as the Uganda Association of Consulting Engineers, the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers, the Institute of Quantity Surveyors and the Architect Institute of Uganda are testimony to this fact.

During the Homes and Construction Expo 2023 that was organised by Vision Group last year, construction experts trained attendees on how these bodies work. Comprised of architects, engineers, physical planners and surveyors, these outfits have continued to ensure that professional ethics and standards in the construction industry are observed by bona fide actors in the sector.

Architect Shem Sebbowa, one of the trainees informed expogoers that these associations enhance quality standards and ensure improved service delivery through joint communication, problem-solving, research and technological advancement.

He said if you plan to set up a construction project, it is important to know what you want to do in that area, lest you discover that your project’s execution may be limited by the available space or planned public development.

Architectural plans

According to Sebbowa, developers need to carry out extensive research before they go into buying land and procuring building materials.

He also said that it is important to know what you want to do in an area, by investigating to find out if there are big structural plans in the offing. “Involve other professionals like lawyers, surveyors and architects before you buy land,” he says.

Aloysius Ntambi, the Public Relations Officer at Steel and Tube Industries Limited urges would-be developers to undertake detailed research concerning the quality and standards of the building materials available on the market.

For instance, according to him, a developer who chooses to use steel products for their projects enjoys a saving of up to 30% compared to using reinforced concrete.

He says using steel bars has helped a number of developers to achieve their dreams of building storeyed houses and commercial buildings at a minimum cost.

Steel structures were known to be used in setting up industrial developments like warehouses and factories only, but can now be used to construct residential houses. Whereas architects have been advising clients to use this method while constructing high-rise buildings, many are still stuck with using the traditional methods of reinforced concrete.

The type of housing available for the urban populace to rent or buy has been low-grade and plagued with safety and health hazards. One of the reasons for this has been poor building workmanship and poor quality, weak building materials.

With the housing boom that has picked pace since 2018, more options are available with improvements in designed spaces and finishes. All a developer needs to do is to think out of the construction box and explore the many available options.