More women embrace real estate in Mbarara City

As the world evolves, women in Mbarara City are the leading clients in the real estate industry. 

According to real estate dealers who spoke to this publication, today’s women unlike the traditional ones are fearful of the future be it marriage or anything else, something that encourages many of them to strive and own a property for themselves. 

Mr Herbert Tushabe, the Amity Realtors Director, says majority of their clients are female since they are believed to be the builders of nation among other reasons. 

He states that ever since they started the business of selling plots in Mbarara City and Ankole region at large, they have served over 7,000 clients of which among them, women attract the biggest chunk of their clientele pie chart.

“65 percent of our whole clientele are women because it’s easier for them to save but they are also cautious about the future. They are people who think about their children,” Mr Tushabe noted.

He added “Even if a man is in the background, they are the ones who bring money here. Others have biibina (associations) where they save money until they hit their goals.”

According to Mr Mushabe, women are always committed and will willingly join beneficial programmes which give savers opportunities to deposit in instalments until one reaches an amount to own a plot of land.

“We recently introduced a saving scheme and women have joined in big numbers,” he said.

Mr Daniel Arinda the proprietor of Africus Real Estate says women are the biggest owners of real estate products such as plots of land in Mbarara City since they are disciplined especially when it comes to saving money.

“Women respect their payment schedules and are good communicators. Every week we receive about five women who buy our plots,” Mr Arinda said, adding that often when a man decides to buy land, they look for one where they can immediately construct a house.

“Most men want where to construct and build homes. In the process you find they have fewer options, and they end up buying or not,” he said.

However Mr Emmanuel Turinawe of Abet Realtors says men are the majority of their clients since culturally men are believed to be bread winners of their families 

“However, these days we have seen an increase in the number of women buying plots because majority of them feel they should have something of their own rather than relying on men's wealth,” he said

Ms Clair Nabaasa says she bought her first plot of land in 2020 after years of saving. 

This she did to ‘ secure her future’ .

“These days I believe there is gender balance. Women always feel like making their personal investments and land is where one invests their money since it keeps appreciating in value. Land is a new gold. Also most times women feel insecure and this is their fall back plan incase of anything they get where to start from,” Ms Nabaasa said.

They say

According to real estate dealers who spoke to this publication, today’s women unlike the traditional ones are fearful of the future be it marriage or anything else, something that encourages many of them to strive and own a property for themselves.