By Marvin Ocol

Lands, Housing & Urban Development Minister, Judith Nabakooba, has appealed to surveyors to “Show us how communities can build cheap & affordable environmentally friendly houses”

Speaking at the luncheon to officially launch the pre-Annual General Meeting 2022 on Thursday, Nabakooba said so many people are without a place to call home yet access to a home is a fundamental right.

She, however, says “we need to work smartly while utilizinf new knowledge and innovations that will ensure safe and clean practices that are sensitive to our environment”

According to Nabakooba, the NRM Government is committed to achieve Vision 2040; which she says seeks to transform Uganda from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country by 2040.

To achieve this Vision, Nabakooba says the Surveyors and the Built Professionals must be at the center of all discussions in key sectors such as infrastructure for energy, transport, water, oil and gas.

“We want you to speak out loudly and advise us on how to build smart cities, technologies that infrastructure that relies on green and renewable energies. Show us how communities can build cheap and affordable environmentally friendly houses,” Nabakooba said.

Nabakooba, however, challenged surveyors to strengthen their internal controls against individuals going against their values and principles.

“I want to challenge you to strengthen your internal controls especially against those individuals that are going against your values and principles,” said Nabakooba, adding, “I have witnessed several cases of fraud, attempts to displace communities and villages from their ancestral homes by forging land titles and all other forms of corruption. Unfortunately, in all these cases, Surveyors have been involved all throughout. Surveyors it has been reported are involved in the rampant encroachments on public land and protected areas such as forests and wetlands.”

To this, the minister says her Ministry is carrying out internal audits to cancel titles that have been issued to individuals or institutions in protected areas.

“The role of surveyors is key is this effort of securing tenancy rights for everyone especially the bibanja owners,” Nabakooba added.

Nabakooba used her address to remind surveyors about their professional role and importance to Uganda.

Nabakooba says in a bid to strengthen Surveyors and their profession,  in 2019 the section of valuation was upgraded to a full Department of valuation with the objective of streamlining the Valuation services offered by the Ministry, all which will contribute to “growth of the profession.”

She notes, there is also the Valuation Bill being crafted to further streamline the Valuation profession.

“I am optimistic that the same kind of growth will expand and improve the Surveying professions that include Quantity and Land Surveyors. The Ministry will continue opening its doors to discussion in an effort to improve this core sector of Surveyors and Built Professionals,” she said.

Nabakooba commended all the invited guests’ presenters and the Surveyors for attending this end of year Luncheon and Pre-AGM Conference Launch function.

“I would like therefore, to officially launch Pre-AGM Conference 2022,” Nabakooba concluded her remarks.