The head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), Col. Edith Nakalema has asked the National Building Review Board (NBRB) to make good use of their Building Industry Management System (BIMS).
She said this will help them to overcome unnecessary bureaucracy and eliminate wrong elements from the construction sector.
“Through automation, we shall be able to speed up the approval process and improve revenue. This will ensure effective service delivery. The BIMS will help us move together by swiftly driving building control activities,” she said.
Col. Nakalema made the remarks during the closure of a 3-day Annual National Building Review Board workshop on building control in Uganda, held at Lake View Hotel, Mbarara City.
The workshop organised by the NBRB, brought together Building Control Officers (BCOs) and Physical Planners (PPs) across the country.
Col. Nakalema also assured the BCOs and Physical Planners of SHIPU’s strategic partnership to ensure a conducive environment for investors in the construction sector.
“We are all Key players in building control management. We must ensure we promote efficiency and transparency in the construction sector,” she emphasized.
“There is good hope of working together for the good of our economic and general development of our country. The president has always emphasized that public service delivery is done well through effective collaboration.”
On the other hand, Col. Nakalema highlighted key concerns raised by Ugandans against Physical Planners and BCOs.
According to her, the concerns have emerged consistently across engagements, sector dialogues, and member consultations.
She pointed out delayed project completion which is caused by delayed payments from clients, poor planning, and mismanagement on the side of builders and contractors.
She also noted that the unfair procurement practices such as lack of transparency in tendering processes are also a matter of concern.
“Perceived favoritism and corruption in awarding contracts. Some procurement requirements are deliberately hiked to fit specific preferred contractors,” she said.
“We also have poor workmanship such as use of substandard materials, engagement of unskilled labor resulting in structural flaws and safety risks.”
The Executive Secretary of NBRB, Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire thanked the Building Control Officers and Physical Planners for committing to improve the quality of infrastructure in Uganda.
“This annual workshop gives us an opportunity to empower our Building Control Officers and Physical Planners and give them the tools that they require to do the assignment,” she said.
On the issue of delays in building plans approval, Eng. Gutto Bwire said they now have an automation system that expedites the process.
“If anybody is dissatisfied, they are not left alone, NBRB is here to serve you,” she said.
She also assured Col. Nakalema that NBRB works hand in hand with investors to ensure that they are not frustrated when it comes to building control activities.
“Everything we do as the board is to ensure that our investors are not frustrated because we all need each other,” she noted.
“Our interest is to ensure that our people do their job to improve the quality of infrastructure in our country.”
The Chairperson of Building Control Officers, Mr. Denis Sekitoleko who presented the resolutions of the officers, revealed that they resolved to work hand in hand with Physical Planners in sensitising the communities on building control activities.
“We have also resolved to work with the NBRB to achieve our desired goal of having building control activities monitored,” he said.
Smion Mwijuka , the Chairperson of Mbarara City Traders Association, who represented the private sector, thanked NBRB
for guiding Ugandans when it comes to construction.
He also advised the engineers to sensitise the citizens on the importance of putting up planned structures.
Mr. Mwijuka, however decried the laxity among the Building Control Officers and physical Planners in approving and supervising construction sites, saying this contributes to the problem of poor infrastructure in the country.
“You rarely go to construction sites to see what is taking place. This is detrimental to the lives of Ugandans and proper planning of the areas,” he said.
On the other hand, the training aimed at fully exposing all BCOs and PPs, to the workflow process that is harmonising development and building control operations and processes in Local Governments.
It also aimed at grounding all BCOs and PPs in Local Governments to fully understand each other’s roles during approval process including approving of Class as well as ground all BCOs and PPs to fully understand each other’s roles during inspection of building operations including exposing them to the standard forms, formats and schedules.
