news 3 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Kampala Buildings Undergo Seismic Audit, Revealing Low Safety Compliance
A government-led audit has screened around 5,000 buildings in Kampala for seismic vulnerability, uncovering significant compliance issues and highlighting the urgent need for retrofitting. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/government-audits-5-000-buildings-in-kampala-uncovers-low-compliance-rates-5618094
The National Building Review Board (NBRB) has completed a crucial first phase of a nationwide building safety initiative, assessing approximately 5,000 structures in Kampala for their resilience against earthquakes. This extensive screening is a direct response to President Yoweri Museveni’s Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, which mandated enhanced national preparedness for seismic hazards.
The assessment utilized the Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) Programme, a method designed to quickly evaluate the structural integrity of buildings. The initiative aims to identify structures that may require urgent retrofitting or more detailed engineering investigations, forming a critical part of the state’s strategy to safeguard the built environment.
Officials have indicated that this initial audit in Kampala is just the beginning, with plans to eventually assess over 800,000 buildings across the country. The findings underscore widespread concerns about the vulnerability of existing structures to natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and fires, which have been exacerbated by a series of building collapses reported in recent times.
The low compliance rates revealed by the audit highlight a significant gap between current building standards and the safety requirements necessary for a seismically active region. This endeavor is expected to pave the way for stricter enforcement of building regulations and prioritized retrofitting efforts to mitigate potential risks to life and property.