ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION IN THE BUILDING SECTOR IN UGANDA 

As a developing country, Uganda grapples with a challenge of addressing environmental problems without undermining economic development. Most of the technologies used are highly energy-intensive, inefficient, and associated with high levels of pollution .The prevalent low level of industrialization in Uganda implies that construction activities are highly labour intensive, largely involve unskilled labour, and use primitive construction methods.

 A recent study found that the average embodied energy consumed in small-scale brick manufacturing in Uganda is over 5 times higher than that in developed countries, Moreover, the prevailing environmental impact assessment practices do not consider assessment of energy or Embodied Carbon associated with constructing buildings,some initiatives began regulations, but however there is limited knowledge on how such initiatives will enhance sustainable construction. This limited knowledge, coupled with the lack of studies on the extent of awareness and interpretation of sustainable construction amongst various stakeholders in the building sector, makes it difficult to understand whether the assessment of EC is appreciated as a potential enhancer for sustainable construction in Uganda. It is against this background that I have thought to contribute towards the understanding and possible realisation of sustainable construction in Uganda by investigating the integration of Embodied Carbon in the development approval process of buildings. The investigation culminated from pursuit of three objectives: (1) to assess the level of awareness of sustainable construction; (2) to find out how sustainable construction is interpreted; and (3) to assess whether integrating the assessment of Embodied Carbon in the development approval process of buildings can enhance sustainable construction. 

  By Isiko Aggrey 

Ambassador uganda