The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Dorcas W. Okalany, has called upon international building and construction companies to establish operations in Uganda.
She said doing so would not only create employment opportunities for Ugandans but also significantly contribute to the country’s broader development agenda.
Okalany made the remarks on Thursday while officiating at the 4th edition of the Uganda Buildcon International Expo 2025, held at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Show Grounds in Kampala.
The three-day expo is Uganda’s most influential trade exhibition dedicated to the building and construction industry.
It provides a unique platform for local and international stakeholders; engineers, architects, real estate developers, manufacturers, suppliers, and investors to interact, share knowledge, and explore opportunities in Uganda’s rapidly expanding construction market.
In her keynote address, Okalany emphasized the importance of fostering strong partnerships between foreign investors and local stakeholders in the construction sector.
She noted that the expo had attracted exhibitors from ten different countries, and urged them to use this opportunity to identify viable local partners to jointly invest in Uganda’s construction industry.
“Identify local partners so that you can set up industries here. This will provide a ready market for our locally available raw materials and create much-needed jobs for our people,” Okalany said.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a conducive investment environment that supports industrial growth.
According to her, Uganda offers several incentives for investors and has policies in place to ensure business continuity and profitability for companies that choose to establish themselves in the country.
“The government is fully committed to facilitating investors through supportive policies, tax incentives, and infrastructure development. Uganda is open for business,” she added.
Okalany also stressed the need for innovation in the housing sector, particularly in the development of affordable and decent housing for Ugandans.
She said the ministry was keen on promoting technologies and construction models that make home ownership accessible to all, including low- and middle-income earners.
In his remarks, Dave Kayangayanga, the Commissioner for Housing in the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, highlighted Uganda’s current housing deficit, which stands at an estimated 2.4 million units.
He noted that this gap is expected to widen if innovative solutions are not adopted urgently.
“Our population is growing rapidly, yet land remains fixed. That is why the government is championing the condominium approach to housing, where construction is done vertically rather than horizontally. We believe this model will maximize land use and provide more housing units in urban centers,” Kayangayanga explained.
He added that the government has already put in place a supportive legal framework to facilitate the development of condominiums and other high-density housing projects.
Kayangayanga also encouraged both local and international developers to invest in mixed-use developments that incorporate residential, commercial, and recreational spaces in a single project.
The Uganda Buildcon International Expo 2025 serves as a timely platform for dialogue on the future of Uganda’s construction industry.
It also provides a space for showcasing innovative construction materials, smart building technologies, sustainable housing solutions, and state-of-the-art machinery.
