The government has rolled out tough new reforms under the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2026 which took effect on March 19, coming in at a time when illegal structures, poor standards, and deadly building collapses have been causing serious concern across the country.
Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre, National Building Review Board (NBRB) Executive Secretary Eng. Flavia Bwire made it clear that it’s now comply or face consequences.
“All developers, contractors, professionals, and the general public are urged to comply with the law,” she said.
The amendments give NBRB more power than ever before. The board can now hear any complaints related to buildings, not just issues around permits and can even order evacuations or stop construction immediately if safety is at risk.
On top of that, officials can now enter construction sites, enforce rules, and even involve police where necessary.
Building committees have also been trimmed down from 11 to 5 members to improve efficiency, but their powers have been boosted. They can now demolish illegal structures themselves, not just recommend demolition like before.
And for those who like shortcuts? The penalties have been seriously upgraded.
Constructing without a permit could now cost you hefty fines based on the size of your building or up to 5 years in prison. Using banned construction methods or building after a permit expires will also hit harder than before.
The law has also widened liability meaning accidents happening even in completed buildings can now land developers or owners in serious legal trouble.
Negligence penalties have jumped to up to UGX 10 million or 12 years in jail.
The amendment is also opening doors for innovation, allowing developers to apply for approval of new building technologies and materials, instead of outright bans like before.
UPDATE: Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire, Executive Secretary of the National Building Review Board (NBRB), has announced plans to make occupation permits mandatory for all building owners.
The permit, issued by local authorities after construction, confirms that a building is safe and… pic.twitter.com/TlaqOA7cAZ
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) April 9, 2026
