The Minister of Works and Transport Gen Katumba Wamala has witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Building Review Board (NBRB) and Uganda National Housing and Construction Company (NHCC) to construct a Research Centre and Building Materials Laboratory.
NHCC is providing land at Lubowa, along Entebbe road in Wakiso District while NBRB will mobilise resources for the construction.
Reports by the Investigations, Compliance and Monitoring Departments at NBRB have continuously pointed to the use of substandard building materials as one of the causes of the building accidents. The country also lacks ISO certified laboratories to ascertain the quality of building products on the market.
At the Research Centre and Laboratory, studies and ascertainment of the quality and standards of building materials will be carried before any of such materials are release to the market.
“The building Control Act, 2013, empowers NBRB to carry out various tests on building method and materials so as to establish their viability in order to advise the authorities for their authentic decision. With the research Centre and the laboratory our work will be simplified.” Said Eng, Flavia Gutto Bwire, the Executive Secretary, NBRB.
The Chief Executive Officer of NHCC Eng.Kenneth Kaijuka welcomed the MOU and pledged to stick to its terms so as the put an end to the substandard building products on the market.
It is hoped that other regional building testing facilities will be establish after the Lubowa project.
Other officials including Emmanuel Male, the Chairperson NBRB and Sylvester Wanjuzi Wasieba Board Chairperson NHCC among others attended the event.
About NBRB
The National Building Review Board (NBRB) is a corporate body established by the Building Control Act, 2013. The Board was inaugurated on October 2, 2018.
The NBRB which is an agency under the Ministry of Works and Transport is mandated under section 9 of the Building Control Act, 2013 to monitor building developments, ensure design and construction of buildings are accessible by persons with disabilities, oversee and inspect the operations of the Building Committees, prepare and submit reports to the minister on matter relating to the sector.
The Board also hears and determines appeals from persons dissatisfied with the decisions of a Building Committee and determines fees to be charged by urban and district building committees for approval of plans, issue of building permits and occupation permits.
For details visit our website https://nbrb.go.ug
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