Incremental Housing: Is It an affordable Housing option for Middle-Income Groups in Kampala?.
Abstract
Uganda in its housing context has been vailed as affordable though the cry amidst those in
need of housing speaks otherwise. This research delves into how incremental housing can be
provided or adopted as a solution to the housing scape amidst the hundreds of thousands of
Ugandans in the urban sprawls and suburbs surrounding their major cities (Kampala city in
this case). This is in addressing the high housing costs, a need for sustainability,
expressionism, and professional advances. The cost of construction with such an approach
can be revised to suit the user by the cash flow.
The study is done through extensive revision of literature, cases of successful interventions in
communities, and an informed and professional view rendered by professionals in the
housing sector to understand its contextual parameters and its extent to fit in Uganda’s
housing context.
Much as the cases and reports largely dwelt on low-income groups, its relevance to the
middle-income groups stands strong since most of the middle-income groups in Uganda can
potentially fall into low-income if they left employment for a year. The details explained in
the research study also reveal the potential of incremental housing to curb Uganda’s deficit in
housing units.
The study also recommends the different approaches to be taken for incremental housing to
become effective in the current situation. These recommendations addressed policies,
professionals, economic considerations, financiers, and the public. Some of them included
sensitization programs for designers, developers, and the public to adopt an economically
viable and sustainable approach to decent housing. Involving Urban planning authorities too
so that they consider the approach on a macro scale for sustainable cities.