This year, the international World Habitat Day was celebrated on 1st
October 2012. The purpose of the day is to reflect on the state
of our cities and towns and the basic human right to adequate shelter.
It also aims to remind the world of its collective responsibility for
the habitat of future generations. As we continued to reflect on these
issues, the Uganda Human Settlements Network (SSA: UHSNET) a network of organizations
and stakeholders in the housing and human settlements sector in conjunction with Uganda Cooperative Alliance (UCA) and Ministry
of Lands Housing and Urban Development organized a forum to engage stakeholders in the sector on issues of
prioritizing access to adequate housing in Uganda. This was done through holding a stakeholder breakfast meeting with
a wide range of stakeholders aimed at increasing public awareness on
the need to prioritize housing in Uganda.
The major objective
of this meeting was to publicize some of the good practices in adequate
housing as we all reflect on suitable alternatives to confront the challenge
of inadequate housing in Uganda. The meeting was also aimed at seeking
to enhance lobbying and advocacy by engaging the media and parliamentarians
in voicing housing issues in Uganda.
The meeting was organized under
the theme: “Changing Cities, Building Opportunities: Towards Adequate Housing”
and took place on Tuesday 30th October 2012 at Imperial Royale Hotel
- Kampala. The chief guest of was Hon. Daudi Migereko Minister
of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
Among the key point raised were:
- Need for security of tenure
- Promotion of the Public Private Partnership model
- Government's dedication to changing the face of housing
- New and immediate plans for government to implement in housing.
It was evident from the meeting that there is increased participation of stakeholders in changing the face of housing in Uganda.
The network pledged to continue promoting the talks and engagements on housing so as to increase the need for prioritizing housing in Uganda.
