An investigation into the potential of rammed earth as a construction technique in Uganda.

Abstract

In Uganda, traditionally housing was not a major problem because among other reasons people manipulated materials in their immediate environment to construct their homes thus the grass thatched mud and wattle houses. According to Sanya (2007), earthen houses have become socially unacceptable yet they still make up approximately 50% of the housing stock. This situation represents a deficiency in Ugandan architecture. Despite many efforts by the government through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, National Housing and National Housing Construction Company to overturn the housing deficit, no major efforts have been geared towards adoption the rammed earth yet it has proven to be successful in countries like Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Australia. This research is designed to investigate the potential for the use of the rammed earth technique of construction in the present scenario to mitigate some of Uganda’s housing problems. The research therefore provides insights into rammed earth projects that have been carried out in Uganda in order to offer architects interested in using the material a rational basis of deciding on whether or not to use the material.