President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed into law three key pieces of legislation designed to strengthen regulation in Uganda’s construction, housing finance and property valuation sectors, the Presidency has announced.
The newly enacted laws: – Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2025, Mortgage Refinance Institutions Act, 2025 and Valuation Act, 2025, were assented to at State House Entebbe, according to a statement from the Presidency.
The new legal framework introduces tougher penalties for illegal construction and non-compliance with approved building standards, a move the government says is intended to improve safety and accountability in Uganda’s rapidly expanding urban areas.
Under the Mortgage Refinance Institutions Act, 2025, Bank of Uganda is granted powers to regulate mortgage refinance institutions, strengthening oversight of the housing finance sector and improving access to long-term financing for homeowners.
The Valuation Act, 2025 provides for the establishment of the Institute of Certified Valuers, which will oversee professional standards, registration and regulation of valuers in the country.
The Presidency said, “the three laws are expected to streamline construction oversight, deepen the mortgage market and professionalise valuation services, in support of Uganda’s urban development and housing growth agenda.”
Uganda is facing growing pressure on urban infrastructure, rising housing demand and persistent concerns over unsafe construction practices in fast-growing towns and cities, blamed for more than 12 fatalities annually.
The government says the laws are intended to strengthen accountability across the construction and housing value chain, from building approvals and financing to valuation and professional standards, as Uganda faces accelerating urbanisation and population growth.
