Background
The government of Uganda enacted the Building Control Act, 2013 to amongst other things: consolidate and amend the law relating to the erection of buildings; establish the National Building Review Board (NBRB) and Building Committees; promote and ensure planned, decent and safe building structures that are developed in harmony with the environment; and for other related matters. NBRB is government agency under the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) whose mandate is enshrined under Section 9 of the BCA, 2013 that include: monitor building developments; ensure that the design and construction of buildings and utilities to which the public is to have access cater for persons with disabilities; oversee, inspect and monitor the operations of Building Committees; hear and determine appeals from persons dissatisfied with the decisions of a BC; determine fees to be charged by urban & district BCs for approval of plans, issue of building permits & occupation permits, amongst other things.
The National Building Control Awards (NBCA) is an annual event initiated by NBRB to honour, recognize and reward best performers in the built environment sector that have endeavoured to adhere to the various built-environment regulatory frameworks at their own volition. The first NBCA was held on 8th December 2023 under the theme “Accessibility & Fire Safety” and recognised best performing Building Committees, Building Control Officers & Developers in various categories of buildings for which the public have access.
Over the years, NBRB has developed codes, standards and regulations to guide the built-environment industry in Uganda in line with the laws of the country. NBRB has further developed the Building Industry Management System (BIMS) that is meant to digitize the processes relating to application of building permits, approvals and occupation permit issuance. Although adherence to these built-environment regulatory frameworks is still a challenge to many stakeholders, there are quite a number that have shown remarkable compliance.
This year, NBRB in association with partners is organizing the second National Building Control Awards – 2024 under the theme “Building for Sustainability”, following the successful launch of the first NBCA that was held in December 2023. This year’s award shall adopt a participatory approach from all stakeholders in the built-environment industry to nominate buildings under categories that meet set-out criteria for recognition and awards including the BCs and BCOs.
The idea behind these awards is two-fold: firstly, to encourage compliance to the building control regulatory framework and secondly, to say thank you to those who have endeavoured to comply through a deliberate effort by ensuring that their buildings are planned, decent and fire safe that are developed in harmony with the environment.
Register here
