By Ben Musanje
With Uganda facing a housing deficit of an estimated 2.4 million units, Lands, Housing and Urban Development Minister Judith Nabakooba has unveiled a community-driven strategy aimed at making home ownership more affordable for low-income earners by encouraging them to organise into Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) and housing cooperatives.
Speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni during the 20th anniversary celebrations of Akright City, Nabakooba said cooperative housing presents one of the most practical ways for government to support low-income households while accelerating economic growth and tackling the country’s growing housing shortage.
“If low-income earners can organise themselves into SACCOs and housing cooperatives, it is another area where the government can invest to grow our economy and address the housing deficit, which stands at approximately 2.4 million housing units,” Nabakooba said.
Her remarks come as Uganda grapples with rapid urbanisation, population growth and rising demand for affordable housing, particularly in urban centres where soaring land and construction costs have placed home ownership beyond the reach of many families.
The minister said affordable housing should not be viewed merely as a social welfare programme but as a powerful driver of economic transformation capable of creating jobs, expanding local industries and reducing urban poverty.
“Housing has multisectoral forward and backward linkages that should help us in the fight against urban poverty and in increasing the capacity of our construction industries,” she said.
Nabakooba noted that Uganda’s growing manufacturing sector is already helping to lower construction costs through increased local production of building materials, including steel, ceramics, plastics and tiles, reducing reliance on imports.
“You may recall that ceramics were once a key component of imported building materials, but that is no longer the case,” she said, adding that strengthening domestic industries would make housing development more sustainable and affordable.
She challenged private real estate developers to seize opportunities presented by Uganda’s expanding middle-income population by investing in planned residential communities that deliver quality housing while creating employment across the construction value chain.
“As the economy continues to grow by leaps and bounds, I urge all players in the real estate sector to tap into the new middle-income cohort to develop more affluent neighbourhoods, thereby changing the skylines of our cities,” Nabakooba said.
Beyond financing new homes, the minister warned that family property is increasingly being fragmented through inheritance, undermining long-term investment and sustainable urban planning.
“You can imagine if Akright City were to be divided into smaller plots over the next 20 years in the name of inheritance. What would it look like?” she asked, encouraging families to establish family companies to preserve property value for future generations.
Nabakooba also called for climate-resilient housing developments capable of withstanding floods, droughts and other environmental challenges while supporting inclusive urban growth.
“Let us work together to nurture and grow our housing sector by making it inclusive, sustainable and prosperous for all. We must unlock its full potential by constructing houses that breathe life, foster progress and elevate our people out of poverty into a brighter future,” she said.
She stressed that expanding access to affordable housing will require collaboration between government, financial institutions, private developers and local communities, arguing that decent housing is not only a basic human need but also a catalyst for Uganda’s long-term economic transformation. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
