Col Edith Nakalema speaking during Annual National Building Review Board meeting
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The laxity among the Building Control Officers and physical Planners in approving and supervising construction sites has greatly contributed to the problem of poor infrastructure in the country.
It’s upon this background that the National Building Review Board (NBRB) has been called upon to make good use of their Building Industry Management System (BIMS) to overcome unnecessary bureaucracy and eliminate wrong elements from the construction sector.
Col. Edith Nakalema, the Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), rebuked this board for poor performance, saying that its only through automation that they shall be able to speed up the approval process and improve revenue.
“This will ensure effective service delivery. The NBRB should help the country move together by swiftly driving building control activities,” she said.
In remarks made during the closure of a 3-day Annual National Building Review Board workshop on building control in Uganda, held at Lake View Hotel, Mbarara City, Nakalema said the board, in partnership with Government, should ensure a conducive environment for investors in the construction sector.
Organised by the NBRB, the workshop brought together building control officers and physical planners across the country.
She pointed out delayed project completion which is caused by delayed payments from clients, poor planning, and mismanagement on the side of builders and contractors.
Nakalema also noted that the unfair procurement practices such as lack of transparency in tendering processes has led to perceived favoritism and corruption in awarding contracts, since some procurement requirements are deliberately hiked to fit specific preferred contractors.
“We also have poor workmanship such as use of substandard materials, engagement of unskilled labor resulting in structural flaws and safety risks.”
Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire, NBRB’s Executive Secretary said the annual workshop gives them an opportunity to empower their building control officers and physical planners obtain the tools that they require to do their assignments.
Denis Sekitoleko, the chairperson of building control officers, revealed that they resolved to work hand in hand with physical planners in sensitising the communities on building control activities.
Mwijuka Simon, the Chairperson of Mbarara City Traders Association, who represented the private sector, members of the NBRB rarely go to construction sites to see what is taking place.
“This is detrimental to the lives of Ugandans and leads to poor planning especially in urban areas,” he said.
