Uganda Baati Limited, the country’s leading manufacturer and supplier of roofing materials, building products, and construction solutions is celebrating 60 years of transforming Uganda’s construction industry.
Established in 1964, Uganda Baati was the pioneering force behind the introduction of ZincAL coating technology in the country, setting a new standard for roofing materials.
A member of the Safal Group, Uganda Baati has consistently led the market by offering superior quality roofing materials, designed to meet the diverse needs of its customers.
Over the past six decades, Uganda Baati has not only provided reliable roofing solutions but has also played a crucial role in shaping the construction landscape in the country.
The company’s head of marketing, Macklean Kukundakwe says Uganda Baati’s commitment to excellence is reflected in the wide range of products they have introduced to the market, ensuring that every customer finds a product that perfectly matches their requirements.
The company’s extensive portfolio includes popular roofing solutions such as Lifestile, Romantile, Versatile, Covermax, Maxcover, Classicor, Tekdek, Newlok, Saflok700, and DumuZas.
Despite these milestones, Uganda is grappling with a severe housing crisis, with a staggering shortfall of over 2.4 million housing units, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). This deficit is particularly pronounced in urban areas, where the rapid influx of people in search of better economic opportunities has significantly strained the already limited housing supply.
The situation is further aggravated by the critical shortage of affordable housing options. For many low-income earners, who make up a large portion of Uganda’s population, the dream of owning or even renting a decent home remains out of reach.
One of the primary factors contributing to this housing deficit is the high cost of construction, which, when combined with limited access to financing options, severely hampers the development of affordable housing units.
However, Kukundakwe says that through continuous innovation and research, and a deep understanding of market needs, Uganda Baati has transformed the construction industry in Uganda, making high-quality roofing accessible and affordable to all.
“There is a demand for over 180,000 [housing] units a year. We must ensure that there is a product that is affordable for every household. There is going to be increasing demand for housing because our population is growing and most importantly, our population is young which is why options and solutions like further investments into building solution is a mandate that we have as Uganda Baati,” said Kukundakwe during an interaction with reporters in Kampala on Thursday.
“How do we work around these projections in the need for more housing units for us to serve our customers better? Our mandate and our promise is that we deliver trusted solutions that are affordably priced for us to cover the gap that is there in the housing sector,” she added.
The Head of External Affairs, Ian Rumanyika said that Uganda Baati has made substantial investments in research and development with the goal of producing high-quality and affordable products for its customers.
“We have a fully fledged research and development department. Over 30% of the budget of the CEO goes to research. We do not just put a product on the market; we go into research, into analysing the needs of the customers before we produce. That is why we have been the leader in this market. You have to invest in research for you to bring quality products on the market,” said Rumanyika.
Despite these significant investments and efforts to provide top-tier products, the Ugandan market remains flooded with counterfeit construction materials. These substandard products pose a serious threat not only to consumers but also to the integrity of the construction industry as a whole.
“The construction industry is a recipient of substandard products. As we speak, we have a number of substandard products. As leaders in quality products, especially in the steel sector, we have been at the forefront of making sure we advocate for the right standards, but also make sure that we have the right products on the market. And that is not our role, but we’ve taken up the mantle because we know how much that means to the consumer in Uganda.”
Rumanyika pointed out that Uganda Baati has not been complacent in the face of this challenge. The company has consistently collaborated with relevant authorities and regulatory bodies to combat the proliferation of counterfeit materials.
He said that through these partnerships, Uganda Baati advocates for the importance of maintaining quality standards in the market, working tirelessly to ensure that customers receive genuine, reliable products that contribute to safe and durable construction projects.
“We’ve been partnering with the Ugandan National Bureau of Standards, and the Uganda Manufacturers Association to make sure we continuously advocate for standards. In the steel sector, it is difficult for the end consumer to tell what is standard and what is not standard or what is quality and what is not quality. It is such a very fragile sector where we need to inform, we need to create awareness, we need to educate suppliers, educate our customers on the importance of making sure that what you put on the market is actually standard but also quality for the purposes of making ensure that we build an economy on a strong foundation.”