MBARARA, Uganda— Uganda is banking on technology to overhaul its construction sector, with a top government official urging the national building authority to fully implement a digital management system aimed at speeding up project approvals, boosting transparency, and tackling persistent issues of bureaucracy and corruption.
Col. Edith Nakalema, who heads the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), on Friday called on the National Building Review Board (NBRB) to maximize the use of its Building Industry Management System (BIMS). Speaking at the close of a three-day NBRB workshop focused on building control, held in Mbarara City, Nakalema underscored the transformative potential of automation.
“Through automation, we shall be able to speed up the approval process and improve revenue,” Nakalema stated, emphasizing the direct link between a streamlined digital system and enhanced service delivery. She assured building control officers and physical planners attending the workshop of SHIPU’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for investors within the construction industry.
The workshop, a gathering of key players in Uganda’s building control ecosystem, served as a platform to address critical concerns plaguing the sector. Nakalema highlighted consistent complaints from the public regarding project delays, often attributed to slow payment processes, inadequate planning, and mismanagement. She also pointed to the lack of transparency in procurement, with allegations of favoritism and inflated tender requirements designed to benefit specific contractors. Furthermore, the issue of poor workmanship, including the use of substandard materials and unskilled labor leading to structural deficiencies and safety risks, was raised as a significant challenge.
Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire, the NBRB’s executive secretary, welcomed the call for greater utilization of the BIMS. She acknowledged the crucial role of building control officers and physical planners in elevating the quality of Uganda’s infrastructure and expressed optimism that the automation system would expedite the often-cumbersome process of building plan approvals. “If anybody is dissatisfied, they are not left alone, NBRB is here to serve you,” she assured the attendees.
The implementation of a comprehensive digital system like BIMS is seen as a critical step towards modernizing Uganda’s construction sector. By automating key processes, the government hopes to reduce human intervention, thereby minimizing opportunities for corruption and ensuring a more standardized and efficient approach to project approvals and oversight.
However, the effectiveness of this technological intervention will hinge on its thorough adoption and consistent enforcement across all levels of the construction industry. The workshop also aimed to equip building control officers and physical planners with the necessary understanding of the harmonized digital workflow for development and building control operations within local governments, emphasizing their respective roles in both the approval and inspection phases.