The Inspectorate of Government (IG) in Uganda has opened an investigation into three real estate development companies over allegations of selling poor quality houses to unsuspecting buyers. The companies under probe are Comfort Homes Limited, Universal Multi-purpose Enterprises Ltd and Fakhruddin Properties Ltd.
IGG Beti Kamya revealed the investigation during a stakeholders meeting at her office on Tuesday. She said the IG had received numerous complaints from homeowners about the poor quality of houses offered by these companies. The complaints ranged from the use of poor building materials to ceiling leakages, inferior plumbing, substandard pipes, low-quality electrical work, poor sewerage works, omission of ventilators on windows and unfinished projects.
Kamya said the IG would undertake to establish the structural integrity of the buildings and announce a way forward. She said her intervention in the matter followed several complaints from homeowners on the apartments of Casa Marcella, Spices, Waves, Leo Zodiac, Jasmine and Ugandans in the diaspora through their lawyer Deo Kalikumutima about alleged poor quality houses that were sold to them.
Land state minister Persis Namuganza appealed to real estate developers to focus on the quality of their products for maximum benefits from the lucrative sector. She said the ministry was considering requiring developers to secure final approval of all relevant departments before launching any new housing project.
Representatives of the companies under probe acknowledged the concerns but said some of the issues were a result of poor use by the occupiers. They also said that some of the complaints were not genuine.
The Uganda Engineers Registration Board chairperson, Dr Isaac Mutenyo, acknowledged that many developers were not utilising their services, which was also partly causing the problem. He said the board had heard many complaints but none of the engineers cited was a registered member of the association.
The National Buildings Review Board executive secretary, Flavia Bwire, said the board would get to the bottom of the matter.
Real estate is a fast-growing sector in Uganda, with a deficit of 2.1 million housing units. The deficit is expected to reach three million by 2030 and eight million by 2040. However, the challenge has been on the quality of houses offered.
The IG’s investigation is a welcome development for homeowners and other stakeholders in the real estate sector. It is hoped that the investigation will lead to action being taken against developers who are selling poor quality houses.
