An Evaluation of Factors that have Influenced Housing Policy Development in Uganda

The development trends of Uganda’s housing policy have been erratic right from the time before independence. However, much of the housing policy development can be ascribed to the colonial period. Under this era, the provision of public housing was found to be unsustainable, especially in the 1970s. In the late 1980s, Government of Uganda adopted the enabling approach as a strategy to improve housing conditions in the Country. This approach was the basis for formulating the National Shelter Strategy in 1992. Nonetheless, a number of challenges are still being experienced in the struggle to develop an appropriate housing policy for all citizens in the Country. The paper examines factors that have influenced housing policy development in Uganda since the colonial time to date based on politics, socioeconomic environment and international interventions. This was done by analysing secondary data and interviewing key stakeholders. Findings revealed that, housing policies in Uganda have been changing basing on the political orientation of the day. Institutionalisation of the housing policy framework has not been realised in the country. Existing socio-economic environment in the country have also influenced housing policy formulation. The paper concludes with the recommendation of integrating and harmonising the various policies influencing housing development. It also advocates the development of a holistic policy for the housing sector while taking in consideration the peculiar circumstances of the housing delivery system in the country.