The Minister for Works and Transport Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala has launched the Building Industry Management System (BIMS) an online platform automating all the Building Control Services.
The new BIMS will help developers to apply for Building and Occupation Permits, Commit the Services of Registered Professionals Schedule for Routine Building Inspections, Pay Building Control Fees and get Instant Feedback for the Services Requested for Online.
The system is in full operation in Kira Municipality and Kampala City and it has also been piloted in Entebbe, Jinja Soroti and Mbarara.
The system was developed by talented Ugandans from the National Building Review Board (NBRB) and National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U).
Gen Katumba Wamala while launching the new system at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo, said that the system will go a log way to improve supervision, monitoring and enforcement of existing Building laws to check poorly constructed structures and stem building accidents.
“After here I expect no more delays in the application and approvals of Building and Occupation Permits since the public now expects quick, efficient and transparent processes. The ultimate goal should be to put a stop to the endless building accidents, that give our country a negative image, he stated
Katumba added that in terms of revenue, the system has generated over 1bn ugx in the last four months, however, there has not been an entity to which persons dissatisfied with decisions of local authorities could appeal therefore there has been a negative effect on the cost of some building developments in the country but with this development of the building monitoring system all that shall addressed.
In greater Kampala and metropolitan area, in the news cities, municipalities and town councils the sector growth is very visible none the less there is need to develop the access roads in other new emerging and developing area, currently modern slums emerge for example Muyenga is now a rich man’s slum due to poor planning, next is Najeera and Kira, he said.
Government has invested heavily in the sector inline with NDP3, which seeks to promote sustainable urbanisation, housing and digital programs.
The Executive Secretary of the National Building Review Board (NBRB) Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire called upon stakeholders in the construction sector to embrace the system since it was agreed upon after a consultative process undertaken in 2020.
“It was evident after consultations that digitizing the building control processes was the only way of improving efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and predictability in the sector,” she said .
BIMS is integrated with National Land Information system (NLIS) under the Ministry of Lands for land ownership verification, URA for building control fees payments and verification of TIN numbers, URSB for company registration verification, NIRA for NIN verification, Architects Registration Board, Surveyors Registration Board, and Engineers Registration Board for identification of registered professional.
At the launch the Minister hand over BIMS equipment including the 2 all-in-one desk top computers, a printer and internet connectivity to 25 local authorities which have been activated on the system. The event was also attended by the State minister of Works and Transport Musa Ecweru,
Who are NBRB
The National Building Review Board (NBRB) is a corporate body under the Ministry of Works and Transport established by the Building Control Act, 2013. The Board was inaugurated on October 2, 2018.
Its mandate is stipulated under section 9 of the Act as 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.
