As Uganda’s economy expands and urbanisation accelerates, the government has called on private real estate developers to play a bigger role in addressing the country’s estimated 2.4 million-unit housing deficit, positioning the housing sector as a key driver of economic transformation and job creation.
Speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni during the 20th anniversary celebrations of Akright City, Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development Judith Nabakooba said Uganda’s growing middle class presents an unprecedented opportunity to reshape the country’s urban landscape through planned, sustainable housing developments.
Nabakooba described Akright City as a pioneering model of planned urban development that demonstrates how long-term private investment can contribute to national development while offering residents quality living standards.
“Akright City is an example of 20 years of consistent performance and planned housing that has transformed the way urban development can be undertaken in Uganda,” she said.
The minister said Uganda’s improving economic fundamentals—including rising incomes and sustained growth—are creating demand for better housing, with the economy projected to grow by 6.4 percent before accelerating further as the country moves closer to commercial oil production.
She urged developers to capitalise on the emerging middle-income population by investing in modern residential neighbourhoods capable of transforming the skylines of Uganda’s rapidly expanding towns and cities.
According to Nabakooba, housing remains one of the economy’s most strategic sectors because of its strong linkages to manufacturing, construction, employment and poverty reduction.
She noted that Uganda’s industrialisation drive has significantly increased local production of construction materials—including steel, ceramics and tiles—reducing dependence on imports while strengthening the domestic value chain. Uganda’s exports reached approximately US$18 billion in the 12 months ending March 2026, reflecting broader industrial growth that can support the housing industry.
Addressing affordability, Nabakooba revealed that Uganda currently faces a housing shortage of approximately 2.4 million units and encouraged low-income earners to organise themselves into housing cooperatives and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), saying such initiatives could attract greater government support.
“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,” she said.
Beyond expanding housing supply, the minister called for reforms aimed at preserving property value across generations. She warned that continued fragmentation of land through inheritance risks undermining planned developments and encouraged Ugandans to embrace family companies as a sustainable model for managing property assets.
Nabakooba also challenged developers and policymakers to ensure that Uganda’s future cities are built to withstand climate-related shocks such as floods, droughts and heatwaves. She said sustainable urban planning should prioritise resilient infrastructure, environmental protection and inclusive growth while aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
She called for stronger collaboration between government, investors and communities to unlock the full potential of Uganda’s housing sector.
“The future of Uganda is housing as a fundamental right, and also an investment,” Nabakooba said, urging stakeholders to make the sector more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous while commending Akright City for moving beyond land speculation to deliver fully planned urban communities.
