Police to Produce Own Building Materials Amidst Housing Shortage

The Uganda Police Force is initiating its own production of building materials, starting with construction blocks, as a direct response to a severe and ongoing housing shortage for its officers. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Abas Byakagaba, officially launched the Block-Making Project at Nsambya Police Barracks, signalling a new strategy to enhance police accommodation.

This in-house manufacturing initiative is intended to eventually support the construction and renovation of police housing and office spaces across the country. IGP Byakagaba highlighted that the project is a long-term solution to the “longstanding housing challenges faced by officers.”

Official reports indicate a critical deficit, with the Auditor General’s report for the period ending June 2024 revealing that 53.1 percent of the 38,460 entitled officers lacked adequate housing. Many are consequently forced to live in substandard and unsafe conditions.

The situation is compounded by the government’s efforts to increase the size of the police force, further straining existing accommodation resources. The police’s housing woes have been described in the Auditor General’s report as a “persistent housing crisis.”

Beyond block production, the IGP also laid a foundation stone for improved housing infrastructure at Nsambya Barracks. During a tour and meeting with senior officers and the Police Advisory Committee, Byakagaba emphasized that better living conditions are crucial for officer welfare, morale, and effective public service. The force acknowledges that significant investment is still needed to fully overcome the accommodation deficit.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/police-to-make-own-blocks-as-housing-crisis-persists-5583002