Partners with Habitat for Humanity have asked the government of Uganda to demonstrate commitment to housing through allocation of funds to it, in the national budget.
This was during the second Uganda Housing Symposium held this week on Thursday under the theme; “Affordable Housing in Urban Informal Settlements as a Driver for Economic Growth.”
During the deliberations involving policy makers, funding partners, beneficiaries and different organizations among others, funding was one of the issues that took center stage.
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Robert Otim, the Director Habitat for Humanity Uganda mentioned that to tackle funding in line with policy making, the organization initiated the Home Equals Campaign which led to the formation of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Housing.
He said; “Habitat for Humanity Uganda intitiated the Home Equals Campaign which gave birth to the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on Housing. Under the camapign, we are also planning the Intergrated Basic Services Project in Kamokya.”
Nevertheless, despite milestones covered through initiatives by Habitat for Humanity together with the government, there are still challenges in implementing projects such as low funding and affordability of houses by Ugandans.
Nathan Banyima, the Bukanga North Member of Parliament, raised concern over the cost of acquiring a house mortgage from Housing Finance Bank. He mentioned that he was highly concerned for the youths who should be the target for housing projects such as these, so that they pay off favorably during their prime career time.
“It is becoming dangerous, you get youths who can not even afford a meal and you are encouraging them to acquire a mortgage from Housing Finance, let us get into reality, banks and all funders should pour money into this to make it affordable.”
Uganda currently has 2.4 million homeless people. Of these, 3 percent are urban dwellers. The mortgage interest rate on average stands between 20 -30 percent which is unaffordable to many of these people. Also, the nation is faced with growing slums, at the moment counting up to 165 according to statistics from Habitat for humanity.
Roland Ndyomugeni, the chairperson for the parliamentary forum on housing highlighted that the government was yet to demonstrate will power for tackling the urgent housing problem.
Ndyomugeni expressed dismay that following deliberations in parliament and resolutions to allocate funding to housing on different attempts has been futile.
He said; “We discuss very well; we find members are willing for the money to be allocated and then at the stage of allocation you find that housing is sidelined and eventually pulled out. There is lack of will power by government in investing in housing.”
He further added that even the idea of merely including a budget line on funding housing regardless of whether it will receive the funds or not, has fallen on deaf ears in the past.
Meanwhile, Anthony Stephen Okoth, the Director Habitat for Kenya posed a challenge to Uganda when he mentions that each year in partnership with the Kenyan government 250,000 houses are erected. He noted that just recently this year, President Uhuru Kenyatta had broken ground on 7000 houses to be constructed for the people. Kenya has 2 million homeless people.
Okoth revealed that the Kenyan government is committed in availing public land in addition to funding the project, as well as influencing policy that to reduce the mortgage rate to `1 digit percentage, in order to address affordability.
The housing project has also been able to address other challenges like unemployment through creating numerous work opportunities for the youths in Kenya.
Panelists at the symposium advised that financial institutions should come up with practical and affordable solutions tailored to particular economic groups.
While at the meeting Habitat for Humanity Uganda committed together with partners to raise money for the construction of three houses before the next symposium.
Judith Nabakooba, the Minister for lands, Housing and Urban Development acknowledged that the government is till grappling with the issue of housing for the vulnerable. However, she noted that the government is committed to address the matter.
Nabakooba highlighted that one of the initiatives the government was planning to take on is building a land bank. This would help the government to realize how much land is there who is on it as well as enable them collect revenue from defaulters.
“We want to establish a land book, survey and register all land. We also wish to review the land policy to make it affordable to people. Standards for valuation `after having the land bank will soon be in place as well.”
In a year, 40,000 good housing Units are constructed in rural areas and 20,000 in urban areas. In 40 years, Habitat for Humanity has supported over 10,000 vulnerable rural families with good housing including a latrine and bathroom. Through it over 60,000 people have found a place called home.