Experts have advised the government to put in place clear policies that allow communities to use wood/timber materials to construct houses noting that the new construction model will enable the country to reduce on the ever increasing demand for housing units and promote climate change.
Speaking at the launch of the Timber Innovation Centre, Mathias Schauer, the Germany Ambassador to Uganda said the demand for housing units in Uganda stands at 2.4 million units.
“40% of the carbon emissions being experienced globally come from the construction sector,” he explained.
He notes that if communities are encouraged to use timber to replace concrete for construction, it will be a great economic opportunity for the country to generate revenue and also fight climate hazards, noting that people will be encouraged to plant more trees.
The project is being promoted by Fair-Ventures Worldwide in Uganda, a non-profit organisation.
Timber construction in Uganda is consumed at a smaller scale of for public, commercial, industrial, and office structures. The country has a housing shortage of about 2.4 million units
Patience Namara, the Country Director at Fair–Ventures Worldwide says the community should be sensitized to adopt the timber model in construction.
“Timber as a byproduct of the trees should not only be seen as timber for furniture or the basic stuff we know, but it can be engineered and used for bigger things,”Naamara said.
