Uganda Plans First Nationwide Baseline Survey of Buildings

News Summary: The National Building Review Board, working with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, is preparing Uganda's first nationwide baseline survey of buildings. The exercise will establish the number, type and structural characteristics of buildings across the country while assessing regulatory compliance and exposure to hazards including floods, fires and earthquakes. Fieldwork is expected to begin around September 1, 2026, with findings targeted for release by December.

NBRB Plans for Baseline Survey of All Buildings

Context

The survey follows repeated structural failures and growing concern over building safety. NBRB data records at least 41 structural failures between 2019 and 2025, associated with more than 90 deaths. An earlier 2021 assessment of 5,642 properties across 11 cities found that approximately 78% failed to meet assessed standards under the Building Control Act. The new nationwide exercise is intended to provide the baseline data needed to identify vulnerable structures and develop measurable safety interventions.

Stakeholder Implications

Property Owners & Developers: Building approvals, occupation permits and compliance records are likely to receive greater scrutiny as regulators obtain a clearer picture of the national building stock.

Structural Engineers & Testing Specialists: A stronger emphasis on building condition and disaster vulnerability could increase demand for structural assessments, compliance audits, non-destructive testing and remedial-design services.