According to the ministry, the expo will also promote climate-resilient housing as Uganda faces challenges associated with flooding, poor drainage and rising heat stress.
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development will next week host the second edition of the Uganda Real Estate and Housing Expo (UREHE), aimed at promoting affordable, innovative and sustainable housing solutions.
The two-day expo, scheduled for September 25-26 at Kingdom Kampala Gardens, will bring together Government agencies, real estate investors, developers, financial institutions, architects, other professionals and housing consumers to explore solutions to Uganda’s housing challenges.
State Minister for Housing, Persis Namuganza, said the expo would provide a platform for stakeholders to share knowledge, showcase innovations and identify practical approaches to making housing more affordable.
The expo will be held under the theme, “Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Housing,” against the backdrop of a national housing deficit estimated at 2.48 million units.
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Namuganza said the scale of the deficit means Uganda cannot rely solely on conventional construction methods to meet the growing demand for housing.
She said the expo would therefore focus on innovative technologies, designs, construction materials and financing models that can reduce the cost and time required to build homes.
Developers and investors will have an opportunity to showcase housing products and projects, while financial institutions will demonstrate financing options available to prospective homeowners and developers.
According to the ministry, the expo will also promote climate-resilient housing as Uganda faces challenges associated with flooding, poor drainage and rising heat stress.
Rapid urbanisation has increased pressure on land, infrastructure and social services, creating a need for better planning and more efficient use of available land.
The ministry said Government was implementing several policies and laws aimed at improving the performance of the housing and urban development sector.
These include the National Housing Policy, 2016, which provides a framework for housing development, and the National Urban Policy, 2017, which guides the management of urbanisation.
Government is also implementing the Physical Planning Act, 2010, and its amendments, which declare the entire country a planning area to promote orderly spatial development.
The Condominium Property Act, 2001, supports vertical housing development, particularly in urban areas, as a way of accommodating more people while containing urban sprawl.
The Landlord and Tenant Act, 2022, is also being implemented to promote a harmonious relationship between landlords and tenants.
The ministry has operationalised 23 ministerial zonal offices to bring land services, valuation and physical planning services closer to the public.
It is also implementing the National Physical Development Plan IV to guide spatial development and human settlements, while preparations are underway to commence the Uganda Cities and Municipal Infrastructure Development Programme.
During the expo, members of the public will also receive free land title search services at the ministry’s exhibition stall.
Namuganza said the expo was intended to strengthen collaboration among Government, the private sector and professional bodies in developing practical solutions to Uganda’s housing needs.