The government is looking for Shs1 trillion to construct affordable and decent houses in slum areas across the country for the low and medium-income earners.
The revelation was made by Lands Minister, Judith Nabakooba, during the Habitat for Humanity’s Home Equals Global Campaign National Awards held at Hotel Africana in Kampala on the evening of February 7.
“It is time that we support the housing sector for all types of houses. We look at low-cost but social houses to accommodate government workers, especially those who work in districts where houses may not readily be available,” she said.
She noted that the proposal is already before the Prime Minister who was tasked to sit with all stakeholders and come up with measures and a budget that can be spread over a number of years on how this can be achieved.
The minister is now waiting for a meeting with the prime minister before taking the issue back to cabinet and once approved, her ministry is looking forward to tapping into the budget cycle in the next financial year, 2025/2026.
“We know once housing is done, it can spur development because there are so many things that are done with the housing sector,” she explained.
A conclusive decision will be made after a meeting with the prime minister and tabling the proposal before the cabinet again, that is when the public has an elaborative strategy for the entire country.
“We are looking into tapping into the budgeting cycle which will be ready in June.”
The awarding ceremony was graced by several dignitaries including members of parliament, people from the academia, media fraternity, and participants who competed in this campaign.
Media competitions were categorized into print, online, radio, and television stations.
Owek. Waggwa Nsibirwa, the deputy Prime Minister of Buganda Kingdom and chairperson for Habitat for Humanity Uganda, said the Home Equals campaigns are advocating for affordable but decent houses to bridge the housing deficit gap which still stands at 2.4 million housing units, of which nearly 1.4 million are in rural areas.
“Habitat for Humanity came to help low-income earners get decent housing on credit. We hope this will help them to get affordable houses,” he said, stressing that they have partnered with different stakeholders including National Water and Sewerage Corporation, and banks.
Minister Nabakooba commended NWSC for collaborating with Habitat for Humanity Uganda to promote access to low-cost water.
Through this partnership, subsidized low-cost water services were extended to slum areas.
“They were able to set 33 water points in those areas and a 20-liter jerry can cost Shs100 which is a fair price to slum dwellers.”
She called upon potential stakeholders who can add knowledge to the housing sector to come on board and provide support to the MLHUD during this home-equal campaign.
The awards and certificates were handed to the participants by Minister Nabakooba.
Journalists who produced outstanding news stories were also awarded accolades, money, and certificates.
Mr Bussein Samilu, a reporter at Daily Monitor, a subsidiary of Nation Media Group, won in the newspaper category for his story titled Born to Rent which was published last year.
“I dedicate this success to my editors and fellow reporters who have always trusted me with big enterprise stories. This award is a big milestone and holds a big impact on my journalism career,” he said.
Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art, and Technology (CEDAT) was one of the stakeholders that participated in this year’s campaigns.
Students developed affordable and decent housing designs and the best person, Benjamin Mukisa, was awarded a Shs1 million prize.
