Uganda’s Parliament has approved stricter measures to curb illegal construction and improve building safety, passing sweeping amendments to the Building Control Bill, 2025. The legislation introduces harsher penalties for unauthorized structures, including fines of Shs40,000 per square metre and prison sentences of up to five years for offenders, doubling previous financial sanctions.
The reforms aim to address the rising incidence of building collapses that have repeatedly claimed lives across the country. Tony Awany, Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Physical Infrastructure, emphasized that stricter enforcement is critical to halting the surge of unsafe structures.
Local Government Minister Raphael Magyezi had proposed lighter penalties two-year prison terms and smaller fines but MPs rejected the suggestion, arguing that stringent measures are necessary to save lives. The law also streamlines permit approvals: applicants facing delays at the local level can now appeal directly to the National Building Review Board, which has been reduced from 16 to nine members representing key ministries and professional bodies in engineering, planning, and surveying.
Proposals to include additional minister-nominated representatives and lawyers were rejected to prevent politicization, though a representative for persons with disabilities was retained, reflecting concerns over building accessibility. Youth MP Edson Rugumayo urged the Board to also consider other vulnerable groups, such as lactating mothers and occupational safety concerns.
Uganda has experienced a worrying rise in building collapses in recent years. Between 2019 and 2023, 41 incidents claimed 94 lives and injured over 100 people five times the toll recorded in the previous five-year period. Recent tragedies, including collapses in Makindye and Buziga, have exposed regulatory gaps and reignited calls for accountability.
Experts attribute the trend to poor construction quality, substandard materials, weak oversight, and disregard for building codes. With the amended law, lawmakers hope to strengthen accountability, enforce safety standards, and prevent further loss of life in Uganda’s rapidly urbanizing cities and towns.