Uganda to Demolish Old and Unfit Buildings Along Main Streets

[Eronda]

The Ugandan government has announced plans to demolish old, poorly planned, and unfit buildings located along major streets, beginning with Kampala, as part of a nationwide initiative to improve urban infrastructure and the appearance of cities and towns.

The announcement was made by State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Persis Namuganza, during the unveiling of the Second Uganda Real Estate and Housing Expo, scheduled for September 25-26, 2026, at Kingdom Kampala Gardens.

According to Namuganza, the exercise will be carried out under the provisions of the Physical Planning Act, 2010, and its subsequent amendments, which designate the entire country as a planning area.

"We shall have no room for houses which are not on plan," Namuganza said.

Stricter Enforcement of Planning Standards​

The minister said government authorities will intensify enforcement against developments that violate physical planning regulations, particularly structures built without adequate spacing for roads, drainage systems, and other essential urban services.

"We are no longer going to allow houses that are being constructed squeezing one another, leaving just a narrow gap in between," she said.

The initiative also aligns with the Uganda Cities and Municipal Infrastructure Development Plan, which seeks to modernize urban centres and improve their overall appearance.

Buildings to Be Marked for Demolition​

Namuganza said authorities will identify and mark buildings deemed obsolete, unsafe, or unsuitable for prime locations along major streets.

"We are not going to spare any house in any city, town or municipality which has outlived its usefulness," she said.

She added that structures that negatively affect the image of cities and municipalities will also be targeted.

"We are also looking closely at houses which are not fit to be on the main streets because they give a bad picture of our cities and towns and how they look. All those houses, we are going to mark them with an X for demolition."

Government Offers Redevelopment Partnerships​

Property owners whose buildings are earmarked for redevelopment will be given an opportunity to upgrade their properties before demolition is undertaken.

For owners lacking the financial capacity to redevelop, the Ministry of Lands has established a dedicated desk to facilitate Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements with government.

"If the developers do not have money to develop them, we have opened up a desk at the ministry. Come and partner with us under a PPP arrangement to develop them," Namuganza said.

Under the proposed arrangements, government and property owners may agree on revenue-sharing models, joint redevelopment projects, or outright acquisition of affected properties by the state.

"We shall discuss how we can share units, or the government can buy off such properties, but we are no longer going to have houses that have outlived their usefulness," she added.

Urban Renewal Agenda​

The planned exercise forms part of a broader government agenda aimed at improving the physical appearance, functionality, and investment attractiveness of Uganda's urban centres. The demolition campaign is expected to start in Kampala before being extended to other cities, municipalities, and towns across the country.