Uganda's Buildings: Rapid Growth, Neglected Maintenance

Uganda is witnessing a boom in construction, with rapid urbanization and large-scale investments under Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan driving development. However, this growth is overshadowed by a concerning trend: a significant neglect of building maintenance and facility management once construction is complete.

From stalling elevators and struggling air conditioning to unreliable power, the daily reality for many in Uganda’s most expensive buildings points to a deeper issue than mere ownership. Experts highlight that the country’s focus has been heavily skewed towards building rather than sustaining and managing these assets effectively.

This oversight echoes a past experience in the 1990s when the government divested public real estate due to high maintenance costs, a move that revealed ownership alone doesn’t guarantee value. Now, with construction accelerating, there’s a risk of repeating history without structured management.

Regulatory frameworks like the Building Control Amendment Act of 2025 and the forthcoming Real Estate Bill are being introduced to enforce higher standards. However, a persistent skills and mindset gap remains a significant challenge. Many developments lack sufficient technical input on post-construction management, and a considerable number of buildings, even high-value ones, operate without trained facility managers.

“Facilities management is everything between air conditioning, lifts, generator, security, cleaning, catering and everything that is non-rental involved,” explains Moses Lutalo, managing director at Broll Uganda. He emphasizes that this often-undervalued profession ensures a building’s safety, efficiency, and financial sustainability but is frequently delegated to unqualified personnel or outsourced informally, leading to reactive, rather than proactive, maintenance.

The entry of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Uganda Chapter aims to professionalize the sector by standardizing practices, creating networks, and attracting talent. The goal is to cultivate a workforce capable of meeting global standards, especially as international investors increasingly demand higher-quality building management.

“Our country needs professionals who will manage what is already existing and prepare what is coming to be standard and really valuable over the long term,” states Henry Mulindwa, president of IFMA Uganda Chapter. He stresses that buildings are dynamic entities requiring continuous maintenance and professional oversight to preserve their value and ensure they are not degraded over time.

Ultimately, Uganda faces a critical choice: continue celebrating construction or prioritize stewardship. The core lesson remains clear: buildings do not fail suddenly; they decline gradually through neglect, underscoring the urgent need for a lifecycle approach to property development and management.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)