The Ministry of Works and Transport, in collaboration with the National Building Review Board (NBRB), has launched an intensified crackdown on illegal construction activities across the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
The operation is targeting developers using the prohibited Steel Timber Composite (STC) building method, which authorities say poses serious structural safety risks.
The STC method, often marketed as a cheaper alternative for constructing multi-storey buildings, involves the use of timber joists supported by steel beams to hold concrete slabs. However, the technology was officially banned in 2022 by Edward Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport.
The ban followed technical studies by engineering experts which concluded that the method is structurally unsafe.
Key risks identified include poor weld connections, where steel components are inadequately joined, use of unregulated timber that lacks standardized grading in the local market, making it difficult to guarantee load-bearing capacity, and the absence of proper composite action, meaning the materials fail to function as a unified structural system, increasing the risk of sudden collapse.
The latest enforcement operations were carried out in Kira Municipality, where authorities discovered several construction sites allegedly using the banned method. Officials said multiple suspects were apprehended after inspections revealed developers had ignored the 2022 directive, potentially putting the lives of future occupants and nearby residents at risk.
“We cannot trade the safety of Ugandans for cheaper construction costs,” a representative from the National Building Review Board said. “This method lacks an engineered basis and poses a significant risk of structural failure, particularly under lateral loads such as wind or tremors.”
Under Section 42 of the Building Control Act, anyone found using prohibited construction methods or materials faces penalties including heavy fines, imprisonment, and demolition of non-compliant structures.
In a statement posted on X, the National Building Review Board confirmed that the crackdown is part of a broader campaign to enforce building standards across the Kampala metropolitan area. Authorities have urged property developers and contractors to consult certified engineers and strictly adhere to approved building standards to ensure the safety and durability of structures.