The Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU) Col. Edith Nakalema has called upon local governments to embrace the Building Industry Management system (BIMS) an online platform that automated all building control processes.
According to Col. Nakalema, automation will reduce the delays in the approval processes, eliminate revenue leakages and ultimately ensure effective service delivery.
She made the remarks while closing an annual workshop of over 300 Building Control Officers (BCOs) and Physical Planners (PPs) held at Lake View Hotel in Mbarara City. The workshop was organised by the National Building Review Board (NBRB) a body under Ministry of Works and Transport mandated to regulated the building sector.
“We must strive towards providing a conducive investment environment by serving with integrity, flexibility and vigilance. And with automation we shall collectively simplify processes and create a transparent, corruption-free investment landscape for both local and foreign investors” Nakalema added.
NBRB developed the Building Industry Management System (BIMS) to ensure efficiency, consistency and predictability in the issuance of building and occupation permits. With the System, the developers can apply for building and occupation permits, pay building control fees, schedule for routine building inspections and commit the services of registered professionals online.
During the workshop, the BCOs and PPs were trained on how to use the system in discharging development and building control in local governments. They were also equipped with skills of approving and inspecting of building operations and also inspected some of the ongoing construction sites in Mbarara City.
Col. Nakalema warned the BCOs and PPs against engaging in corruption tendencies especially through issuing development and building permits unlawfully.
The Executive Secretary of NBRB Eng. Flavia Bwire highlighted the importance of the training in ensuring planned developments and safe buildings in local governments.
“The PPs and BCOs have agreed to work together to eliminate the delays the investors have been complaining about in the approval processes. As NBRB we shall continue supporting them with training and equipment to enable them do their work diligently” Eng. Bwire noted.
This is the second annual workshop on building control matters, the first was held in Jinja City in 2024. The Building Control Act Cap.136 provides for the Building Control Officer and a number of Assistants in each District Council and Urban Authority whose functions is to make recommendations to the Building Committee in relation to building plans, specifications of materials and workmanship. They also forward to the Building Committee for review, copies of all applications for minor building works, inspect the erection of any building, the demolition of any buildings among others functions.
The Physical Planning Act 2010 on the other hand provides for the establishment of the District and Urban Physical Planning Committees whose membership includes a physical planner in private practice appointed by the council on the advice of the secretary to the Board.