Housing Finance Bank (HFB) has officially launched the HFB Zimba Challenge, a bold and inclusive innovation competition aimed at inspiring Ugandans to find practical and affordable housing solutions for all income levels.
The launch event brought together architects, engineers, artisans, and entrepreneurs to collaborate on ideas that could transform Uganda’s housing landscape and address the country’s growing housing deficit, currently estimated at 2.4 million units.
Speaking at the launch, Doreen Nyiramugisha, Head of Marketing and Communications at Housing Finance Bank, says the challenge is about reimagining what “home” means for Ugandans.
“We are calling on partners to innovate and collaborate to make housing affordable, sustainable, and truly Ugandan,” she said.
She added that the initiative aligns with the bank’s three High Impact Goals — financial inclusion, enterprise growth, and eco-friendly housing which are central to HFB’s mission to empower communities through accessible financial and housing solutions.
The Head of Microfinance at HFB Annet Ssebugwawo Nakigudde, emphasised the need for housing models that cater to Uganda’s informal and low-income earners, noting that many hardworking citizens are left out of the traditional mortgage system.
“Think of a boda rider earning Shs 320,000 a month; can he really sustain a 20-year mortgage? We need options that work for everyone low-income, informal, middle, and high-income earners,” she said. Nakigudde shared success stories of HFB clients like Mr. Muwonge and Moses Mukiibi, who were able to build decent homes incrementally with as little as Shs 30 million, proving that affordable housing is achievable when designed with people’s realities in mind.
Meanwhile, John Baptist Kaweesi, Head of Mortgage and Consumer Banking at HFB, highlighted the urgency of addressing Uganda’s growing housing deficit.
“We call upon all stakeholders across the country to participate in the Zimba Challenge and help us find solutions that can reach every Ugandan,” Kaweesi said, emphasising the nationwide scope of the initiative.
The Zimba Challenge aims to harness local talent and creativity to develop innovative, sustainable, and scalable housing solutions that meet Uganda’s diverse needs from urban centers to rural communities.
