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Next-gen architects redefining affordable housing
What you need to know:
- Challenge. As the world grapples with urban inequality, these young architects issue a powerful challenge: The solutions are already here. We need only the will to embrace them.
- Uganda’s housing crisis is not merely a matter of supply and demand, it is the result of a complex web of systemic failures. Construction costs have skyrocketed, far outpacing the stagnant incomes of most Ugandans, nearly half of whom earn less than Shs230,000 a month.
Kampala’s skyline is a study in contrasts. Gleaming high-rises stretch toward the clouds, monuments to wealth and foreign investment, while just beyond their shadows, millions of Ugandans navigate the labyrinth of informal settlements, makeshift structures of rusted iron and weathered timber.
The numbers are staggering: Uganda faces a housing deficit of 2.4 million homes, with 60 percent of urban residents living in unplanned, often precarious dwellings. Yet, against this backdrop of inequality, a trio of young architects from Makerere University; Ronald Muhanguzi, Robinah Tumwesigye, and William Mukisa, are rewriting the narrative of affordable housing. Their visionary designs challenge the long-held assumption that low-cost homes must sacrifice durability, aesthetics, or cultural relevance. Instead, they demonstrate that affordability can coexist with innovation, sustainability, and even beauty.
The roots of the crisis
Uganda’s housing crisis is not merely a matter of supply and demand, it is the result of a complex web of systemic failures. Construction costs have skyrocketed, far outpacing the stagnant incomes of most Ugandans, nearly half of whom earn less than Shs230,000 a month.
The reliance on imported building materials; steel, cement, and glass, further inflates expenses, making even basic homes unattainable for the majority. Meanwhile, traditional financing systems fail to accommodate the realities of incremental building, where families construct their homes in stages as finances allow. Banks demand collateral that most Ugandans lack, while microfinance loans, though more accessible, come with exorbitant interest rates that trap borrowers in cycles of debt.
Compounding these issues is the short-sighted approach of many so-called "affordable" housing projects. Too often, developers cut corners with flimsy materials or cramped, uninspired designs, resulting in homes that deteriorate within a decade. These structures may meet immediate shelter needs, but they offer no long-term security, forcing families into perpetual cycles of repair and reconstruction.
The true cost of such "cheap" housing becomes evident over time, as families pour money into constant maintenance or, worse, find themselves displaced when their homes become uninhabitable. Against this bleak landscape, Muhanguzi, Tumwesigye, and Mukisa are pioneering a different approach; one that rethinks affordability not just in terms of upfront costs, but in durability, adaptability, and long-term value. Their solutions are deeply rooted in local materials, traditional building techniques, and an intimate understanding of how Ugandan families actually live and grow.
he road ahead Despite their transformative potential, these designs face significant hurdles to widespread adoption. Material supply chains remain underdeveloped; Tumwesigye’s brick presses, for example, require Shs180m machines, of which only three exist in Uganda. Financing gaps also persist, with banks unwilling to fund incremental construction and microfinance loans inflating costs by up to 38 percent.
Policy roadblocks, such as zoning laws that prohibit home businesses, further stifle innovation. Yet, there is hope. Collaborative models; such as partnerships between universities and manufacturers, or savings cooperatives offering construction-linked loans; could bridge these gaps. Government incentives, like tax breaks for developers using local materials, could further accelerate change.
A blueprint for Africa’s future From Kampala to Kinshasa, Africa’s housing crisis demands solutions that respect cultural context and economic realities. Muhanguzi, Tumwesigye, and Mukisa offer more than architectural blueprints; they provide a new framework for thinking about affordability itself.
Muhanguzi shows that homes must grow as families do. Tumwesigye proves that indigenous materials can outperform costly imports. Mukisa demonstrates that true affordability is measured in decades, not square metres. As the world grapples with urban inequality, these young architects issue a powerful challenge: The solutions are already here. We need only the will to embrace them.
William Mukisa: The Case for Long-Term Value
William Mukisa’s approach flips the conventional notion of affordability on its head. Rather than focusing solely on minimising upfront costs, he designs homes that last; saving families money over decades. His Shs21m two-bedroom model may cost slightly more initially, but its durability ensures savings far outweigh the investment.
William Mukisa
Key to Mukisa’s design is the use of unprocessed local brick, left exposed without plaster or paint. This not only saves Shs2.3m per unit in construction costs but also eliminates the need for repainting and repairs, saving homeowners an estimated Shs400,000 annually. He also incorporates community composting hubs, where organic waste is recycled into fertilizer, cutting garbage collection costs by 60 percent for entire neighborhoods.
Another standout feature is the inclusion of rentable commercial spaces; a 10-square-metre courtyard kiosk that costs just Shs500,000 to build but can generate Shs200,000 in monthly rental income for homeowners. "Compare this to government-built ‘affordable’ units that start crumbling after 20 years," Mukisa argues. "Our homes last 60 years with minimal maintenance. That is three generations of security from a single investment."
Ronald Muhanguzi: Designing for Life’s Uncertainties
At the heart of Ronald Muhanguzi’s philosophy is the recognition that a family’s housing needs evolve over time. Unlike static, one-size-fits-all designs, his homes are built to expand alongside their occupants. His signature model begins as a compact 25-square-metre core unit, priced at just Shs7m, containing a living space, a bathroom, and a kitchen. But what sets it apart is its capacity for growth.
Key to Muhanguzi’s design is the use of mortar-free interlocking bricks, pressed from a blend of local soil and cement. These bricks eliminate the need for skilled bricklayers, reducing labor costs by 30 percent. Equally innovative is his use of eucalyptus timber frames, sourced from Ugandan plantations, which replace expensive imported steel and slash structural expenses by 40 percent. Families can later add prefabricated bedrooms (each costing Shs2.5m) or extend verandas into income-generating market stalls; all using the same modular brick system.
Ronald Muhanguzi
For flood-prone neighbourhoods such as Bwaise, where 80 percent of homes suffer water damage annually, Muhanguzi integrates elevated foundations (45 cm above ground) with built-in runoff channels. Even the excavated soil is repurposed into bricks, transforming what would typically be a construction expense into a resource.
"Most ‘affordable’ housing projects ignore the unpredictability of life," Muhanguzi explains. "A teacher’s starter home should be able to accommodate her grandchildren one day—or even a small tailoring business. That’s real affordability."
Robinah Tumwesigye: The Revival of Indigenous Wisdom
Robinah Tumwesigye’s work is a testament to the untapped potential of Uganda’s indigenous building traditions. Her designs, which cost just Shs252,000 per square metre, harness centuries-old techniques that have been overlooked in favour of imported materials.
One of her most striking innovations is the alcohol-residue brick, made by binding compressed earth blocks with fermented brewers’ waste; a method traditionally used in the Busia region. The natural sugars in the residue act as a powerful adhesive, creating waterproof bricks without the need for costly chemical stabilizers.
Robinah Tumwesigye
Her interlocking wall system, inspired by Indian rat-trap masonry, uses 20 percent fewer bricks and requires no mortar, further driving down costs. But perhaps her most ingenious feature is the thermal mass properties of her walls. By using volcanic ash-rich soil, she creates 30-centimetre-thick walls that naturally regulate indoor temperatures, eliminating the need for air conditioning, a luxury few Ugandans can afford.
This alone saves families an estimated Shs300,000 annually in energy costs. Tumwesigye also integrates vertical farming walls into her designs, lining them with recycled sackcloth pockets for growing vegetables. A modest Shs 150,000 investment in these walls can yield Shs75,000 in monthly food savings; a game-changer for low-income households.
"Why should sustainable living be a privilege?" she asks. "Our ancestors built this way. We are simply refining their knowledge with modern science."
