Developers of illegal buildings face huge fines in new amendments bill

By Olivia Nabaggala

23th June 2023

Developers’ whose buildings will collapse but found with no approved plans are likely to be fined in the newly proposed amendments of the Building Control Act.

This has been disclosed by the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala while officiating at the Kampala City Building Control Baraza, noting that the current Act doesn’t stipulate penalties to developers who engage in such illegal constructions.

Gen Katumba, who didn’t disclose the exact amount of fine proposed in the new amendments, said that the bill is currently processed for discussion in cabinet and later sent to parliament for consideration.

The survey report released by the National Building Review Board (NBRB) indicated that only 22.7% of the buildings in 11 cities across the country, met building standards and Hoima city had the highest level of compliance (30.2%) while Lira was at the lowest level of compliance (11.5%).

According to the regulation’s, section 34(1,2) of the Building Control Act, 2013, a person shall not carry out a building operation without a valid building permit issued by a building committee and any violation contravenes a fine not exceeding Sh1 million or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both

Minister Katumba further adds that in the new amendments, families of victims who die in collapsed buildings as a result of developers’ negligence will be compensated.

However, the research that was carried out by the National Building Review Board (NBRB), last year indicated that out of the 5,640 buildings being constructed; only 1,500 buildings have approved plans.

The Executive Secretary of the Board of the NBRB, Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire called upon developers to monitor the kind of work being done by engineers once it’s not professional they are ready to deal with them.

Meanwhile, the engineers complained about the delays in approving building plans by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) yet developers work on borrowed money to construct their buildings.

The Building Control Baraza has been organized by NBRB in partnership with KCCA under the theme; “Ensuring a Well Planned, Decent and Safe Built Kampala City”.