Uganda Summons Developers and Banks to National Housing Dialogue
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Uganda's government has called for stronger public-private collaboration to tackle the country's housing shortage, ahead of a National Housing Dialogue in Kampala to mark World Habitat Day.
Uganda's government has called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to tackle the country's growing housing shortage and improve access to adequate and affordable homes.
The call was made by the Minister of State for Housing, Princess Persis Namuganza, in a statement read by Dave Khayangayanga, the Director of Housing at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday.
Namuganza said Uganda will join the rest of the world on 5 October 2026 to commemorate World Habitat Day through a National Housing Dialogue at Hotel Africana in Kampala. The dialogue, organised by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Uganda and other sector players, will bring together government officials, property developers, real estate investors, financiers, contractors, regulators, cultural leaders, academics, manufacturers and development partners.
The 2026 World Habitat Day theme, "Adequate Housing for All", will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the state of human settlements and explore practical solutions to Uganda's housing challenges. "Government cannot close Uganda's housing gap alone. We need a new and stronger housing partnership," Namuganza said.
She urged the private sector to increase investment in affordable housing and develop innovative and cost-effective housing solutions, and called on financial institutions to develop housing finance products that reflect the realities of Ugandan households, particularly people earning informal and irregular incomes. Development partners were asked to support catalytic financing, policy innovation, climate-resilient housing, research and capacity development.
Namuganza said local governments also have a critical role to play by strengthening physical planning, land management and enforcement of development standards to promote orderly and inclusive urban growth. She added that Uganda's housing challenge is closely linked to wider urban problems, including inadequate basic services, climate change and the vulnerability of people living in informal settlements, and stressed the need to involve communities as partners in designing and implementing housing solutions.