Homes Expo: Private developers asked to make homes affordable

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With a population growth rate of 5.67%, Uganda’s present population of 42 million suggests a 2.4-million-unit housing deficit with 210,000 in the urban centres and 1,395,000 in rural areas, reveals the State Minister for Lands, Sam Mayanja. 

He says the housing supply is neither adequate nor reasonably-priced to fulfil the needs of the housing gap for a population which is mostly made up of broke people at the bottom of the chain. 

(Photo by Timothy Murungi)

“One spends sh100m per unit, which is the lowest price for a unit. Of the 1,395,000 people in rural Uganda, how many can afford a low-cost house at a sh100m per unit?” Mayanja asked this while delivering his speech as he officially opened the inaugural physical Homes & Construction Expo organised by Vision Group.

“If we are going to look at those at the bottom of the market, we must rethink the entire concept of low cost-housing,” Mayanja said.

He added that the rethinking should also factor in the modern-middle class person. 

Mayanja explained that despite private developers’ efforts to provide relatively affordable housing, a more robust approach to close the housing gap on a large scale will necessitate the intervention of the Government and incentives to encourage private developers. 

“It’s inevitable that there must be Government’s intervention if we are going to see massive development of affordable housing. It is in that light that I applaud the Homes and Construction Expo 2023 by Vision Group.“

On his part, Don Wanyama Vision Group’s CEO said through the Homes & Construction Expo Vision Group is facilitating the networking of industry experts and Ugandans interested in construction knowledge, and in the process connect service providers with buyers.

“People are thinking creatively about how to make construction materials more affordable,” Wanyama said. According to him, in the process, Vision Group is linking industry players to those constructing homes, apartments and condominiums.

“We are certain that the Homes & Construction Expo will grow and will get bigger in many years to come,” he said.

Wanyama urged more people to attend the expo and get knowledge on financing for housing, and the latest building technologies. 

Participants listening in at the Homes Expo. (Photo by Timothy Murungi)

(Photo by Timothy Murungi)

Sponsored by Steel & Tube Industries, the expo is running from November 25 to 26 at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Its objective is to bring awareness about good building practices. Entry fee is sh10,000, with which participants are attending panel discussions and seminars free of charge. There are also lots of opportunities to interact and gain knowledge from building industry experts.