Provision of Affordable Housing in Uganda
Uganda Co-operative Alliance (UCA) is an umbrella organization for all types of co-operatives in Uganda. After reviving the financial service co-operatives (SACCOs), agricultural production, value addition and marketing co-operatives, UCA has with support from a number of Development Partners embarked on the process of promoting affordable housing in Uganda. Currently, the housing program is being supported by Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and Development Finance for International Development (DIFD) with Reall (formerly known as Homeless International) as the Coordinating Partner. A Holding Company, ‘Enterprise for Housing Development Uganda Limited’ was recently incorporated as a business arm for the Investing Partners.
Completed housing units
Recently, the housing program embarked on its pioneer project on a size 3 acre piece of land located at Awala village, Gwengabara on the periphery of Lira Municipal Council onto which 64 housing units are planned. Demonstration housing units are already complete (see picture below).
The houses are being sold as condominium units with a package comprising of a condominium title, piped water supply at plot boundary, sanitation, access road and core house. An increment/growing house concept has been used, with clear marketing information on how the clients can expand the core house (31m2) to a fully-fledged two bedroomed residential house (60m2). Currently, each housing unit is being offered at an attractive price of Ug shs 21.7m. On payment of 20% of the cost of the housing unit, mortgage finance is available at an interest of 17.5% with flexible repayment periods.