{"id":12848,"date":"2024-09-20T15:36:30","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T15:36:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=12848"},"modified":"2024-09-20T15:36:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T15:36:34","slug":"construction-symposium-experts-warn-of-rising-environmental-threat-from-ugandas-construction-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/construction-symposium-experts-warn-of-rising-environmental-threat-from-ugandas-construction-waste\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction Symposium : Experts Warn of Rising Environmental Threat from Uganda\u2019s Construction Waste"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>By Zulfah Namatovu<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building experts in Uganda are raising the alarm over the growing threat posed by construction and demolition waste, warning of severe environmental risks to the country&#8217;s health and housing sector. They are calling for immediate action from property developers and relevant authorities to address this escalating issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eng. Kenneth Kaijuka, Chief Executive Officer of the National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC), issued a clarion call while delivering the keynote address at  a well attended  Uganda Architects\u2019 Construction Symposium, held at Imperial Hotel, Kampala, on September 20, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kaijuka stressed that waste generated from the construction, renovation, repair, and demolition of houses, large buildings, roads, bridges, piers, and dams can significantly harm public health if not properly managed. &#8220;Construction waste is a growing problem, and we\u2019ve seen cases like Kiteezi where waste has overwhelmed us. The bigger problem isn\u2019t domestic waste\u2014it\u2019s construction waste, which no one is paying attention to,&#8221; Kaijuka warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He further highlighted the looming challenge, stating, \u201cIn the next 10 years, parts of Kampala will be demolished, and with that, the question is\u2014where will all the debris, including tiles and nails, end up? Our wetlands are being destroyed, and much of this waste ends up in the lake.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Architect Catherine Muyinda, Honorary Secretary of the Uganda Society of Architects, echoed these concerns, urging industry players to explore sustainable recycling options. &#8220;The construction industry must look into recycling waste materials like wood, steel, concrete, and asphalt, just as it\u2019s done in developed countries,&#8221; Muyinda said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She cited an example from the Netherlands, where old tires are recycled into pavers, calling for similar innovative approaches in Uganda. &#8220;We don\u2019t have recycling plants for construction waste yet, but we must start thinking big,&#8221; she emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kaijuka, also representing Finance Minister Matia Kasaija at the symposium, called on urban authorities to focus on land, housing, and population planning to ensure organized, sustainable development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mr.Vincent Byendaimira from the Directorate of Physical Planning at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) acknowledged that managing construction waste is an increasing concern across the city\u2019s five divisions. &#8220;KCCA is collaborating with neighboring districts like Kira, Mukono, and Wakiso to enforce infrastructure policies across boundaries,&#8221; Byendaimira noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The symposium, themed&nbsp;<em>&#8220;The Business of Construction in Uganda,&#8221;<\/em>&nbsp;also addressed key topics including project financing, compliance, sustainability, and the use of innovative construction technologies as drivers of success in the sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite Uganda\u2019s current population of 45.59 million, there is a severe housing deficit, with only 2 million permanent housing units available against the estimated demand for 9.2 million units. The 2016 National Housing Population survey revealed that the country has 7.3 million houses that are more than 50 years old, alongside 5 million semi-permanent houses and 3 million temporary structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Uganda\u2019s population growing at an annual rate of 3.4%, or approximately 1.5 million people, the demand for new housing stands at 300,000 units per year. However, the construction industry is only producing 100,000 units annually, far below the ideal minimum rate of 500,000 units that experts recommend to meet housing needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Zulfah Namatovu Building experts in Uganda are raising the alarm over the growing threat posed by construction and demolition<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/IMG-20240920-WA0344.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12913,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/uganda-requires-massive-investment-to-tackle-housing-deficit-nhcc\/","url_meta":{"origin":12848,"position":0},"title":"Uganda Requires Massive Investment to Tackle Housing Deficit &#8211; NHCC","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"October 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Dominic Ochola Uganda requires an investment of at least 1,000 trillion Shillings to address a national housing deficit currently estimated at 1.8 million units, according to the National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC). Established by an Act of Parliament (Cap 321) in 1964, the NHCC is tasked with increasing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/usa4-scaled.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/usa4-scaled.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/usa4-scaled.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/usa4-scaled.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/usa4-scaled.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12820,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/unqualified-engineers-threaten-ugandas-construction-industry-architects-call-for-action\/","url_meta":{"origin":12848,"position":1},"title":"Unqualified Engineers Threaten Uganda&#8217;s Construction Industry, Architects Call for Action","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"September 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Dominic Ochola Uganda\u2019s construction and housing industry is increasingly endangered by unqualified engineers, prompting a call for urgent intervention by Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Daniel Sekamwa, a council member of the Uganda Society of Architects (USA), sounded the alarm in an interview on Saturday 14th September, 2024,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/usa3.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/usa3.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/usa3.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/usa3.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15050,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/ec-starts-construction-of-shs-400bn-headquarters-in-lweza\/","url_meta":{"origin":12848,"position":2},"title":"EC Starts construction Of Shs.400bn Headquarters in Lweza","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"August 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Electoral Commission has launched the construction of its new headquarters, which will cost 400 billion Shillings. The headquarters will be in Lweza B Ndeje Division, Makindye Saabagabo, Wakiso district.\u00a0 Justice Simon Byabakama, the Electoral Commission chairperson, stated that the National Housing and Construction Company has assured them that the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nab.png","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nab.png 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nab.png 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nab.png 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/nab.png 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15311,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/uganda-architects-warn-against-imposters-as-sector-prepares-for-creative-economy-symposium-to-be-held-on-sept-112025\/","url_meta":{"origin":12848,"position":3},"title":"Uganda Architects Warn Against Imposters As Sector Prepares For Creative Economy Symposium To Be Held On Sept 11,2025","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"September 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Zulfah Namatovu The Uganda Society of Architects (USA) has warned developers against hiring unregistered practitioners in the construction sector, cautioning that the continued use of quacks is fueling the surge in building collapses across the country. 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While opening the construction sector dialogue at UMA head office in Lugogo ,\u00a0 Judith Nabakooba, the Minister of Lands underscored\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;National News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/judi.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/judi.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/judi.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/judi.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/judi.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6438,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/habitat-for-humanity-uganda-partners-with-nation-media-group-to-fundraise-and-raise-over-ugx-1-billion-to-build-houses-for-the-vulnerable\/","url_meta":{"origin":12848,"position":5},"title":"Habitat for Humanity Uganda partners with Nation Media Group to fundraise and raise over UGX 1 billion to build houses for the vulnerable","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"August 17, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Gloria Kembabazi Habitat for Humanity Uganda (HFHU) has joined hands with Nation Media Group (NMG) to undertake a major nationwide fundraising drive that is set to raise \u00a0over UGX one billion to support 40 vulnerable families in need of\u00a0 decent housing in Uganda. This partnership was sealed with the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Housing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Housing","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/housing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Pic-MOU-scaled.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Pic-MOU-scaled.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Pic-MOU-scaled.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Pic-MOU-scaled.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Best-Pic-MOU-scaled.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-3le","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12848"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12850,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12848\/revisions\/12850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}