By: Boy Fidel Leon
Parliament has approved sweeping reforms to Uganda’s building laws, passing the Building Control (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Cap. 136, with stiffer penalties for illegal construction and measures to streamline the approval of building projects.
The Bill, passed during plenary on Tuesday, 2 September 2025, chaired by Speaker Anita Among, introduces stricter sanctions for offenders, reforms the operations of the National Building Review Board, and regulates the use of unconventional construction technologies.
One of the most consequential changes is the increase in fines for erecting buildings without valid permits. Offenders will now face imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of two currency points, equivalent to Shs40,000, for each square metre of the built-up area.
“This will go a long way in addressing the rise in erection of illegal structures and the collapse of buildings in the country,” said Hon. Tony Awany, Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, while presenting the committee’s report.
He noted the increasing number of unsafe, unapproved structures that have led to building collapses, claiming lives and destroying property. The same penalties will apply to individuals who continue construction after their permits have expired.
Attempts by the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi’s plans to retain the previous penalty of one currency point per square metre and a maximum prison term of two years were rejected by lawmakers, who argued that only tougher measures could kerb the growing crisis.
The Bill also seeks to address delays in the issuance of building and occupation permits. Where local Building Committees fail to act within the stipulated timelines, applicants will now have the right to appeal to the National Building Review Board.
This provision, MPs said, is designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks that frustrate developers and encourage non-compliance.
Lawmakers supported the government’s proposal to reduce the membership of the National Building Review Board from 16 to nine, arguing that a smaller team would improve efficiency, accountability, and cut costs.
However, Parliament rejected a proposal to allow the Minister to nominate two members of the public, warning that this could politicise what is intended to be a technical body. MPs also struck down a plan to include a lawyer from professional associations, noting that the Attorney General’s Chambers already provides legal expertise.
The approved composition will include representatives from the Ministries of Works and Transport; Gender, Labour and Social Development; Lands, Housing and Urban Development; Local Government; the Attorney General’s Chambers; as well as professionals in engineering, architecture, physical planning, and surveying.
Speaker Anita Among pushed for retention of a representative for persons with disabilities (PWDs) on the Board, stressing that most buildings in Uganda still fail to meet accessibility standards.
“We are saying the Bill should be specific to disabilities, to ensure there is a representative to take care of their interests,” she said.
The Youth Representative for Western Uganda, Hon. Edson Rugumayo, further urged that the role should extend to other vulnerable groups, such as lactating mothers, and incorporate issues of occupational safety and health.
If enacted into law, the new amendments will significantly tighten Uganda’s building regulations. Lawmakers believe the reforms will strengthen accountability in the construction sector, reduce unsafe developments, and ultimately safeguard lives and property.