Ministry warns against uneven cement packaging
“The aspect of selling cement which is less than what is indicated on the pack has reached us as a ministry and is of serious concern because we have what we call construction codes and standards,” he said.
Dave Khayangayanga, the director for housing at the ministry speaking during a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday (July 30). (Photos by Ronnie Kijjambu)
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Following recent videos that circulated on social media reprimanding some firms and cement sellers for selling underweight cement, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has affirmed that investigations into the matter will be conducted and, if found guilty, the perpetrators will be brought to book.
During a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday (July 30), Dave Khayangayanga, the director for housing at the ministry, affirmed that it is unacceptable to fleece Ugandans by offering cement in quantities below its actual weight.
Khayangayanga said there are mixes specified for 50 kilogrammes of cement and anything below that compromises the quality and standards of buildings and puts people’s lives at risk.
The director for housing in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dave Khayangayanga (left) chatting with the director of Exhibition Organisation and Promotion Company, Vijayanka Brighuvanshi (right) during a press conference in preparation for the 5th Uganda Buildcon International Expo at Media Center Kampala on July 30 2026. 
He asserted that in coordination with other agencies, including the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the Ministry of Works and Transport, they will seek to unearth the growing claims that by the time cement reaches the final point, it has been compromised.
Meanwhile, Khayangayanga revealed that the 5th edition of the Uganda Buildcon International Expo is slated to take place on August 5-8 at the UMA Show Grounds in Nakawa, Kampala.
The event will attract both international and local players in different spheres of the construction industry to showcase innovations and sustainability in the housing and construction sector.