Property owners across Uganda's cities and
municipalities are facing a strict ultimatum: Bring dilapidated structures up
to modern safety and aesthetic standards, or risk seeing them demolished. Speaking
at a press briefing to Uganda Media Centre, State Minister for Housing Persis
Namuganza announced that the government is intensifying physical planning
enforcement under ongoing urban infrastructure development initiatives. The
initial sweep will target unfit, outdated, and structurally unsafe buildings
along major corridors in Kampala before expanding nationwide.
"Old
buildings that look too old are not allowed, and we encourage people with
financial inadequacies to partner with potential people under public-private
partnership arrangements," Namuganza stated.
The minister emphasized that financial constraints will no longer serve as an excuse for maintaining urban blight. Landlords lacking the capital to renovate or redevelop their properties are urged to pursue Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) or negotiate sales with potential investors to support orderly urban growth.
Crackdown
on Tenancy Rights Violations
Alongside
building safety, the Ministry is preparing to enforce the Landlord and
Tenant Act, 2022 more aggressively. Enacted to regulate both residential
and commercial premises, the law aims to curb recurring disputes. Namuganza
highlighted routine breaches on both sides, pointing to landlords who execute
illegal evictions without court orders, as well as tenants who refuse to vacate
after receiving lawful notices. Clearer enforcement mechanisms aim to ensure
structured legal compliance for both parties.
Tackling
Uganda’s 2.4 Million Housing Deficit
The policy
announcement comes as Uganda faces a national deficit of roughly 2.4 million
housing units [cite: 1]. To address this shortfall, the government will host
the second edition of the Uganda Real Estate and Housing Expo on
September 25–26 at Kingdom Kampala Gardens under the theme "Adequate
Housing for All"[cite: 1]. Organizers expect over 100
exhibitors from 10 countries—including real estate developers, financial
institutions, urban planners, and technology firms—to explore housing finance,
affordable construction innovations, and sustainable land-use strategies [cite:
1].
How might
these new demolition policies and PPP arrangements affect your current property
holdings or tenancy agreements?
