By Ben Musanje
The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) and the National Building Review Board (NBRB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake Uganda’s first-ever Baseline Survey of Buildings, a move expected to provide government with comprehensive data on the country’s building stock.
The agreement was signed at Statistics House on Friday during a ceremony presided over by UBOS Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiza, with the NBRB delegation led by its Executive Secretary, Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire.
The survey will establish a comprehensive inventory of buildings across Uganda and collect data on key aspects of the built environment, including building characteristics, structural conditions, compliance with building regulations, ownership, occupancy and the geographical distribution of buildings.
The initiative is intended to address gaps in reliable and up-to-date information on Uganda’s building sector and provide evidence to guide planning, regulation and investment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Mukiza said the partnership demonstrates the importance of collaboration in strengthening Uganda’s National Statistical System and ensuring that government decisions are based on credible and evidence-driven information.
He emphasized that official statistics are essential for national development planning, particularly in sectors where accurate data is needed to inform policy and resource allocation.
The survey is expected to generate statistics that will support infrastructure planning, regulation of the construction industry, disaster risk reduction, monitoring of building standards and evidence-based policy formulation.
The data could also help government and other stakeholders better understand the scale, condition and distribution of buildings across the country, providing a stronger basis for interventions aimed at improving public safety and sustainable urban development.
Joint team to oversee survey
Under the MoU, UBOS and NBRB will establish a Joint Technical Committee to oversee the implementation of the survey.
The committee will be responsible for key stages of the exercise, including developing the survey methodology and questionnaires, pilot testing, field operations, data processing, validation and dissemination of the findings.
UBOS will provide technical leadership in survey design, statistical methodology, quality assurance, data processing, analysis and dissemination.
NBRB, meanwhile, will coordinate survey implementation, mobilize resources and provide technical expertise in areas including building inspection, construction standards and regulatory compliance.
The partnership brings together UBOS’s statistical expertise and NBRB’s technical and regulatory knowledge of Uganda’s building sector.
Once completed, the survey is expected to provide Government, investors, development partners and other stakeholders with accurate and timely information to support decision-making across the construction and building sectors.
The findings are ultimately expected to contribute to stronger regulation of the construction industry, improved public safety, better infrastructure planning and sustainable urban development as Uganda pursues its national development objectives. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
