news 14 April 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Uganda's New Building Law Empowers Demolition of Unsafe Structures
President has signed the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2026, granting authorities the power to demolish unsafe buildings and enforce strict safety standards amid rapid urban growth. The reforms aim to prevent fatal collapses by closing enforcement gaps and imposing heavy penalties on violators. Source: https://observer.ug/news/new-law-gives-authorities-to-demolish-unsafe-structures
Uganda’s construction industry faces tougher regulations following the President’s approval of the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2026. This legislation equips regulators with enhanced authority to tackle unsafe buildings, responding to the country’s fast-paced urban expansion and past incidents of deadly collapses.
The National Building Review Board (NBRB) now plays a pivotal role. Engineer Flavia Gutto Bwire, the Board’s Executive Secretary, highlighted that previous rules allowed committees to issue demolition orders in writing but lacked the muscle to execute them against non-compliant developers.
Under the new act, Building Committees can enforce orders, including evacuating occupants and carrying out demolitions for safety reasons. The NBRB can intervene if local authorities lag, issuing stop-work or evacuation directives.
Construction projects must start within 12 months of approval and finish in five years, with extensions requiring formal approval. Non-compliance risks penalties or demolition.
Accountability is streamlined: complaints start locally before escalating to the national level. Penalties are steeper, with negligence fines up to Shs 10 million, 12 years imprisonment, or both. Building without permits or using banned methods incurs per-square-metre fines.
“These changes strengthen compliance and enforcement,” Bwire stated.
The law promotes safer development, holding developers, engineers, and homeowners responsible to protect lives amid Uganda’s building boom.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)