Uganda Container Construction Information

Uganda is a beautiful, landlocked country in East Africa. Formerly a protectorate of the United Kingdom, Uganda gained its independence in 1962.

It's got volcanoes, mountains, and a southern border with Africa's largest lake, Lake Victoria. Uganda also has ten national parks and dozens of other protected areas as well.

The regulatory environment for construction and building in Uganda is rapidly maturing. Starting around roughly 2010, the national government has been working to improve and codify rules and procedures to make the country's buildings safer.

It starts with the Construction Standards & Quality Management Department of the Directorate of Engineering & Works, which in turn is part of the Ministry of Works & Transport. This organization has oversight into things like engineering standards, though the scope is generally more toward public projects.

The government passed the Building Control Act in 2013 and the Building Control Regulations in 2020. Together, these official decrees determine how building regulations in Uganda are handled (along with other Acts focused on environmental protection, accessibility for people with accessibility, etc.)

One of the creations of these acts was the National Building Review Board (NBRB) which also reports to the Ministry of Works & Transport. The NBRB is a multi-member entity comprised of government officials from various offices along with members of professional associations, unions, etc., all with jobs related to the built environment.

The NBRB's most important job is overseeing Building Committees. Each District and Urban Authority in Uganda has a Building Committee. And these local Building Committees are the officials who actually grant building permits and approve construction plans.

Ultimately, persons interested in building must comply with the National Building Code of 2019. And thankfully, Uganda is also moving swiftly to make its building and construction regulatory system as modern and efficient as possible. Through the Building Industry Management System (BIMS), users can apply for building permits online.