Kampala Capital City Authority (Kampala Capital City Authority) has held a high-level engagement with the Architects Registration Board and other stakeholders in the construction industry to address delays and inefficiencies in the building permit approval process in Kampala.
The meeting brought together architects, engineers, and developers, with stakeholders agreeing to strengthen regular engagement in order to improve coordination and speed up approvals.
KCCA Director of Engineering, Justus Akankwasa, said the law requires the authority to issue building permits within 30 days, but acknowledged that delays have continued to affect developers and professionals in the construction sector.
“The law requires KCCA to issue building permits within 30 days, but persistent delays have continued to frustrate developers and professionals,” Akankwasa said.
He attributed part of the inefficiency to weak coordination and communication between developers and architects, which he said continues to affect service delivery across the sector.
“Poor coordination and communication between developers and architects have significantly affected service delivery across the sector,” he added.
Officials also warned that individuals involved in irregularities during the approval process would face sanctions under existing building regulations, as authorities seek to curb malpractice in the system.
KCCA further raised concern over the growing number of unqualified individuals posing as architects and engineers, linking poor workmanship to several building collapse incidents in the city.
The Chairperson of the Architects Registration Board, Miriam Ssembatya, said the engagement followed numerous complaints from architects over delays in service delivery.
“Under the Building Control Act, it is a serious offence for developers to commence construction without an approved building plan and a valid permit,” Ssembatya said.
She also warned against individuals masquerading as professional architects, noting that new enforcement measures have been introduced to clamp down on illegal practitioners operating within the sector.
Stakeholders welcomed KCCA’s plans to digitise the building permit issuance process, saying the move is expected to improve transparency, reduce bureaucratic delays, and enhance efficiency in service delivery.
The meeting was described as a key step toward addressing long-standing bottlenecks in Kampala’s construction approval system, with authorities expressing optimism that stronger collaboration will restore professionalism and order in the sector.