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Government Moves to Recapitalize NHCC to Deliver Low-Cost Housing for Public Servants and Eligible Citizens

Government Moves to Recapitalize NHCC to Deliver Low-Cost Housing for Public Servants and Eligible Citizens

The Government of Uganda has embarked on a major effort to recapitalize the National Housing and Construction Corporation (NHCC) with the goal of delivering affordable housing to public servants and other deserving citizens. This initiative, which is part of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto for 2021–2026, is expected to make a significant impact on addressing the country’s housing deficit and easing access to decent, affordable homes.

While providing an update on the progress made so far, the Minister of State for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Kania Obiga, confirmed that a comprehensive market valuation had been conducted and a capital call of Shs 118 billion was made to NHCC shareholders. Of this amount, the Government of Uganda has so far provided Shs 30 billion to support recapitalization, while an outstanding balance of Shs 88 billion remains. In addition, the Libyan Government, a shareholder in NHCC, has an outstanding obligation of Shs 118 billion.

Obiga further revealed that the government is considering recapitalizing Housing Finance Bank to strengthen its ability to expand mortgage financing for Ugandans. This, he explained, will be done through the establishment of a dedicated line of credit that will allow the bank to provide affordable mortgages not only for housing development but also for associated services such as utilities, sanitation, and waste management. According to him, the government has already facilitated over 10,000 mortgages annually for incremental housing, benefiting a wide range of Ugandans including market vendors, boda boda riders, and taxi drivers.

In addition to recapitalization, the government has been working on a feasibility study for the creation of a mortgage liquidity facility in partnership with the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD), the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED), and the Bank of Uganda. This facility, once established, will enhance liquidity in the mortgage sector and further support housing development nationwide.

The Minister also emphasized ongoing reforms in policy and legal frameworks aimed at incentivizing housing development. Among these is a plan to reduce the high cost of building materials by tapping into Uganda’s natural resources, such as limestone and iron ore, to establish integrated industries that produce cement and steel products. To complement these efforts, the government has developed the Project for Enhancing Access to Decent Affordable Housing, which aims to establish a Housing Innovation Support Center. This center will promote the adoption of both local and international housing products, services, and solutions designed to reduce construction costs and encourage sustainable building practices.

Progress has also been recorded in land management and registration. During the review period, the Ministry rolled out the UgNLIS portals under the Land Information System to improve public access to land title searches, including for citizens in the diaspora. The ministry also scaled up systematic land demarcation across multiple districts to formalize land ownership and enhance security of tenure. In districts such as Kiruhura, Ibanda, Rwampara, Mbarara City, and Oyam, more than 125,000 freehold land titles were registered through the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) project. Additionally, over 346,000 parcels of land were demarcated in nineteen local governments, while more than 6,500 land titles were prepared for districts including Kamwenge, Isingiro, Kiryandongo, Lamwo, Yumbe, Adjumani, Terego, and Obongi. The government also supported customary landowners in refugee-hosting districts such as Kamwenge, Isingiro, Lamwo, Adjumani, Yumbe, and Terego to secure land titles.

Despite these strides, Kania Obiga acknowledged the challenges that remain. He pointed to the growing problem of illegal land evictions, encroachment on government land and protected areas, rapid urban sprawl, the rise of informal settlements, an expanding housing deficit, inadequate compliance with physical planning standards, and persistent underfunding of housing programs. These issues, he said, continue to undermine progress toward meeting the government’s manifesto commitments.

Looking ahead, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development plans to intensify its collaboration with other government agencies, including the Judiciary and the Police, to curb illegal land evictions and protect vulnerable communities. Work has already begun on titling government-owned land, starting with schools and health centers, under the Uganda Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfer (UgFIT) Project. Furthermore, the ministry is extending support to local governments—including cities, municipalities, and districts—in developing and implementing physical development plans. Efforts are also underway to strengthen enforcement of physical planning standards and guidelines to address the growing challenges of urbanization.

Through these combined measures, the government hopes to not only recapitalize NHCC and Housing Finance Bank but also lay the foundation for a sustainable, affordable, and inclusive housing sector that provides security and dignity for Ugandans while driving broader national development.

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