Housing poverty in Uganda

  • 81,795 people served in FY18 81,795 people served in FY18
  • 31 volunteers hosted in FY18 31 volunteers hosted in FY18
  • Projects: new homes for vulnerable families, microfinance, market development support to local government Projects: new homes for vulnerable families, microfinance, market development support to local government

Our local team welcomes all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating housing poverty in Uganda to its work.

Since its founding in 1982, our Uganda office has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 8,500 houses – helping over 62,000 people get access to affordable quality housing.

The housing need in Uganda

With an average income of $65 a month, it is not surprising that over two-thirds of Ugandans live in substandard housing.

The reality is clear – the lack of affordable quality housing compromises people’s health and development opportunities which perpetuates the poverty cycle in Uganda.

 

Working together

Housing is more than a roof and walls – we work to build homes, the environment in which we live, grow and build new lives together.

It is about how we come together as communities and how we care for each other.

How we help alleviate housing poverty in Uganda

Uganda Overview In 2016 our team in Uganda served over 16,000 people – more than ever before. That will be…

Uganda Overview

In 2016 our team in Uganda served over 16,000 people – more than ever before. That will be a great success, but still too small in comparison with the 22.5 million Ugandans who live in substandard housing.

We strive to serve these people through 4 tailored programmes:

  • Vulnerable Group Housing
  • Provision of Housing Finance
  • Market Based Technical Assistance
  • Support to Local Governments

Please join us to do more. Together we will build more homes for vulnerable groups and make more micro-loans available to the poorest. Together we will make Uganda a place where everyone has a decent place to live.

a new habitat home in Uganda

Key facts & figures

  • Capital: Kampala
  • Population growth rate: 3.03 % p.a.
  • Population – circa 46.2 million
  • Urbanisation – 26.2%
  • Life expectancy – 68.96 years
  • Unemployment – 9.4%
  • Poverty line – 21.4%

Vulnerable groups housing programme

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The programme supports orphans and their caregivers through the construction of homes with ventilated improved pit latrines, bathing shelters and a rainwater harvesting system. Families are provided with skills training including knowledge of HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, succession planning, inheritance rights, sanitation and hygiene, malaria prevention.

Recognising the connection between housing and livelihood security, we support youth in these households to develop a vocational skill relevant to their local markets such as tailoring, carpentry and masonry.

Housing microfinance

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Credit is a real challenge in Uganda’s cash-based society. We help families access financial services via microfinance to improve their homes. We do this directly and through partnering microlending institutions.

We promote the practice of incremental building – an approach where clients build in stages, first the walls, then the roof, then the doors & windows, etc. This helps to keep loan size small and makes it affordable to lower-income clients.

Find out how we use microcredit to tackle poverty in Uganda
Read more

Market-based approaches

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To truly impact upon the housing challenges, we recognise the need to work with market actors. As only 19.5% of Ugandans have a bank account, the current products available tend to be skewed to higher income earners. HFHU is working with partners to develop housing microfinance products and services that serve middle- to low-income clients.

Premised on the belief that there are affordable, economically viable options for low-income families, we provide Institutional Technical Assistance to support market actors to bring these ideas to life.

Local government support

With a specific focus on urban water and sanitation, in 2016 we will begin to make an impact on the…

With a specific focus on urban water and sanitation, in 2016 we will begin to make an impact on the lives of youth that have migrated to cities to seek employment.

In partnership with like-minded leaders we are connecting youth livelihoods and improved housing in urban settings.

a beneficiary family in Uganda

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