Designing an affordable low-cost housing solution for informal settlements: a case study of Katanga, Uganda

Abstract

Housing represents one of the most basic human needs and has a profound influence on the health, efficiency, social behavior, satisfaction and general welfare of a man. In urban areas in Uganda the housing problem is not only that of the poor quality of available housing stocks but also of quantity of housing supply and its affordability. Housing affordability has long been a concern, not only to individuals but to the government in many parts of the country, particularly in developing nations like Uganda. UN-Habitant report noted that poor urban housing conditions are a global problem, but conditions are worst in developing countries and today, one billion people that is equivalent to 36.5% of the world’s population live in informal settlements and expected to rise to two billion people by 2030. In Uganda there is acute shortage of houses for the poor; and not only those houses are in shortage supply, but also most of the existing ones are in deplorable condition. The consequences of this overcrowding in cities leading to increased deplorable on available infrastructure facilities, poor and deplorable living conditions and degraded environment and to a large extent, outright homelessness amongst most urban poor. Despite the official interventions at the local and international levels, housing problem continue to regenerate as increasing number of the poor urban residents become homeless. The informal settlements in Uganda will continue to expand, contributing to rise of social problems and causing an increased stress on the environment. Review of many scholars work on housing revealed that both the public and private sectors have contributed in various ways for the purpose of meeting ever housing demand in urban informal settlements. This paper concludes by suggesting how architects and different construction professionals can reduce on slum formation by increasing low-cost housing affordability level through design, choice of materials, construction methods and participatory planning to avoid user redesign.