New building law signals tougher enforcement, higher penalties — Mak don Buregyeya

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President Yoweri Museveni’s assent to the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2025, on February 19, 2026, has been described by industry experts as a decisive shift toward stricter oversight and improved safety standards in Uganda’s construction and real estate sector.

New Vision Online had a chat with structural engineer and Makerere University lecturer Dr Eng. Apollo Buregyeya on what the law means for the construction sector.

Q: What does the President’s assent to the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2025 mean for Uganda’s construction sector?

A: With the President’s assent to the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2025, Uganda has taken a decisive step toward strengthening safety, professionalism and accountability in the construction and real estate sector.

Q: Why was this amendment necessary?

A: For years, concerns have persisted about weak enforcement, unregulated developments and tragic building failures that could have been prevented. This amendment signals that the Government recognises the urgency of reforming how we regulate the built environment.

Q: The Board has been reduced from 16 members to nine. Why is that significant

A: This is not merely an administrative adjustment. Smaller boards tend to make clearer, faster, and more accountable decisions. What will matter most now is the technical competence, independence, and integrity of those appointed to serve.

An structural engineer and Makerere University lecturer Dr Eng. Apollo Buregyeya. (Courtesy photo)

Q: What is the importance of the expanded powers given to the National Building Review Board?

A: More significantly, the National Building Review Board can now hear complaints from any person, Building Control Officer, or Building Committee, and issue stop or evacuation orders where safety is compromised. This marks an important shift. For too long, enforcement has been reactive, often intervening only after danger has escalated.

Q: How does this shift from reactive to proactive enforcement improve safety?

A: Construction is not forgiving. Structural failure does not wait for procedure. The ability to act swiftly can prevent the loss of life and property, rather than intervening only after danger has escalated.

Q: The Act increases penalties for offences such as building without a valid permit. Why is this important?

A: Moving from modest currency-point fines to penalties tied to the built-up area ensures that consequences reflect the scale of non-compliance. Large illegal developments will no longer face negligible financial risk.

Q: Is passing the law enough to guarantee change?

A: No. The true strength of any law lies not in its implementation. Without effective enforcement, even the strongest legal provisions will fall short.

Q: What challenges could affect implementation?

A: Local governments remain the frontline of building control, yet many districts and municipalities operate with limited staffing, inadequate inspection tools and constrained budgets. Without deliberate investment in professional deployment and enforcement capacity, the Act may not achieve its full potential.

Q: What role should digitisation play under the new law?

A: Digitisation should become central to compliance. Online permit systems, geotagged inspection reporting and transparent compliance registers can reduce corruption, improve efficiency and build public trust. Enforcement should not rely solely on paper files and discretionary processes.

Q: How does this amendment fit into Uganda’s broader development context?

A: Urbanisation is accelerating, real estate investment continues to grow and infrastructure expansion is ongoing. In such an environment, regulation cannot remain weak or outdated.

Q: Some argue that stronger regulation discourages investment. What is your view?

A: A safe building sector is not anti-investment. On the contrary, it protects property value, attracts serious developers and strengthens national credibility.

Q: What broader message do safe or unsafe buildings send about a country?

A: Buildings reflect the discipline of a nation. When they are safe, compliant and professionally executed, they signal order and confidence. When they collapse, they expose systemic weakness.

Q: What ultimately determines whether this law will succeed?

A: The Act provides stronger tools, but the responsibility now rests with institutions, professionals and developers to apply them with seriousness and integrity. If implemented with consistency and resolve, it can mark the beginning of a safer and more disciplined era in Uganda’s construction sector.