The Uganda Architects Registration Board (ARB) has issued a warning to the public regarding an escalating number of unregistered individuals and foreign professionals masquerading as architects in the country.
The ARB) has since warned that individuals who are masquerading as architects and engage in construction work will be arrested and prosecuted .
According to the ARB Chairperson, Miriam Lawino, the public must remain vigilant against fraudsters advertising architectural services—particularly on social media—without being registered by the regulator.
The board called upon the general public to be on the lookout for such illegal, unlicensed architects and fake contractors and report them to the relevant authorities to save lives.
After running a public notice in the New Vision two suspects of Indian origin , Sabunwala of Mystique design studio for illegal architectural practice and her husband Hakimuddin Sabunwala, of Mystique developers Ltd, for defective construction of a building in Kampala have since been arrested and produced in Nakawa court , and charged accordingly .
Lawino , said that many foreign architects are bypassing professional oversight.
They register general consultancy firms via the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) but fail to secure the mandatory practicing authorizations from the ARB.
We know very well that there are many foreign architects working in Uganda without any form of registration,” Lawino told the Uganda Society of Architects (USA) and ARB symposium at Kabira Country Club in Kampala.
The concern comes as Uganda marks 60 years of the Uganda Society of Architects and 30 years of the Architects Registration Board, placing the regulation of architectural practice under renewed scrutiny as the country expands its cities, housing stock and infrastructure.
