Stakeholders in the construction sector want the government through the National building review board to work on standards and licenses that regulate the construction of wooden houses and structures in the country.
They say wood structures can be a solution to Uganda’s rapid urbanization and housing deficit which stands at around 2.4 million units.
Tembo James head of operations at Fair Ventures Worldwide an environmentalist movement, made the call during the opening up of the first-ever glued laminated Wood facility in the heart of Uganda's capital, Kampala constructed using sustainable timbers in Uganda.
He revealed among the challenges they encountered during the construction of this that Wood building is delayed by Kampala Capital City authority to allow them since there is no standard in the country that governs the construction of wood buildings.
He noted that there is a shortage of engineers and labor force in this space, however, he believes capacity building and skilling Programs introduced by both the private sector and government would go a long way in addressing this problem.
German Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Matthias Schauer officially open the facility.
The construction industry is also said to contribute to a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, hence the need for alternative, renewable and sustainable materials like timber.
Ms. Patience Naamara, the FairVenturesWorldWide Country Director said the rate and scale of urbanization is challenging the country’s infrastructure hence massively limiting access to affordable housing.
“Timber as a byproduct of the trees should not only be seen as timber for furniture or the basic stuff we know but it can be engineered and used for bigger things,” Naamara said at a launch of the project that seeks to enhance and champion sustainable housing through the use of mass timber solutions in the region.
She said the Glued Laminated Timber Innovation Center (TIC) stands as a remarkable exhibition hub, showcasing the immense potential of glued laminated timber while highlighting the ways in which Ugandans can add value to this sustainable resource.
The center’s beams, she said, have been constructed entirely using glued laminated timber, offering numerous advantages such as a shorter construction cycle, and environmental friendliness through carbon storage.
