KAMPALA, Uganda — Success in construction starts long before the first brick is laid, according to industry experts who say proper planning and professional guidance are the keys to building within any financial constraint.
Gilbert Okama, chief operations officer at Maktech Investments Limited, said the most common mistake property owners make is attempting to manage costs without expert help. While many people believe professionals are an added expense, Okama argued they are essential for keeping a project within a specific budget.
Construction projects in Uganda typically follow a three-step process: design, actual construction and the final handover. According to Okama, the property owner must first secure land before engaging a team that includes an architect, a quantity surveyor and a contractor.
Budgeting for materials
Material costs are the most significant factor in any build, typically accounting for about 70 percent of the total project expense.
Since material prices are largely constant in the open market, they dictate the minimum possible cost of a project. Okama said once a client understands the market price of items like cement or steel, they can better determine a realistic budget.
The role of design support
Architects provide what Okama calls design support to help clients bridge the gap between their dreams and their bank accounts.
For example, a standard 200-square-meter four-bedroom bungalow in Uganda might cost approximately 150 million shillings. If that figure is too high, an architect can adjust specifications to lower the price.
This can be achieved by:
- Reducing the number of walls or rooms.
- Choosing different types of roofs or foundations.
- Selecting local materials, such as Ugandan-made tiles, rather than expensive imports.
- Adjusting technical specifications, such as reducing glass thickness or optimizing the number of structural columns without compromising integrity.
Strategies for different budget types
Okama identified two primary types of clients in the Ugandan market and offered strategies for each:
The fixed-budget client: This individual has a set amount of money and needs the project to fit that figure. Professionals help these clients by refining specifications and choosing alternative materials to ensure the project remains affordable.
The incremental builder: This client intends to build slowly over time as funds become available. In this case, a quantity surveyor plays a vital role by breaking the project into distinct phases, such as the foundation, super-structure and roofing.
By splitting the project into phases, a contractor can ensure each stage is structurally sound before the client pauses to raise more money for the next step.
Professional liability
Hiring a professional team also provides a layer of legal and financial protection. Quantity surveyors and engineers carry professional liability, meaning they are accountable if material estimates are wrong or if structural issues arise.
Okama noted that relying on unregulated masons often leads to budget overruns because the client bears the full cost of any mistakes or incorrect material orders.
Maktech Investments Limited, which employs a full suite of architects, engineers and surveyors, aims to guide clients through this process from start to finish.
