Parliament on Thursday, 4th passed the Valuation Bill, 2024, following the adoption of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure’s report, which introduced sweeping reforms aimed at closing loopholes and professionalizing Uganda’s valuation sector.

According to the committee, the country’s valuation system which is critical for land compensation, loans, real estate, and public projects has long suffered from unreliable and unrealistic assessments.

Tony Awany, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, presented the report during the plenary sitting on Thursday, 04 September 2025.

Awany said the flaws in the system had resulted in “delayed implementation of public investments and infrastructure projects, financial losses, contestations of government valuations, increased litigation against government, hefty court awards, as well as imperfect real estate markets and non-performing loans.”

The new law establishes the Institute of Certified Valuers of Uganda, sets professional standards, and strengthens the Office of the Chief Government Valuer (CGV). Key clauses were also amended to prevent abuse.

Valuation in Uganda, Awany said, had long suffered from unprofessional practices that required urgent reform.

“The valuation function has for years suffered from lack of standards, unclear professionalisation, and unreliable practices. This Bill, with the committee’s recommendations, sets clear definitions, strengthens institutions, and streamlines membership and practice to protect both government and the public,” he said.

One major reform concerns the powers of the Chief Government Valuer. The original Bill required statutory valuations whenever a court ordered one, which the committee warned could involve the CGV in every property-related court case.

“Only court orders specifically made to the Chief Government Valuer to carry out valuation should fall under statutory valuation,” the report stated.

Membership of the institute has also been tightened. While the draft Bill allowed the CGV and staff to automatically become members, the committee recommended that all valuers undergo training and examinations, except those already belonging to recognised professional bodies.

Recognition of foreign qualifications was confirmed to remain under the National Council for Higher Education, not the Institute.

Governance of the new Institute was refined. The committee recommended that the four practising valuers on the governing council must have experience, be elected at a general meeting, and that ambiguous dismissal grounds, such as “moral turpitude” or “any other reasonable ground,” be removed.

“The phrase ‘moral turpitude’ is incapable of exact definition; therefore, the proposal is subject to abuse,” the report noted.

Licensing provisions were harmonised. Parliament resolved contradictions between “certificate of licence” and “certificate of practice” for sole practitioners, gave the council discretion to grant or deny licences, and exempted the CGV’s office from requirements designed for private valuers.

New clauses were added to make the Chief Government Valuer responsible for all government valuers and officers undertaking statutory valuations across ministries, departments, and agencies. Another clause ensures that individuals aggrieved by a valuation decision may appeal.

The Bill initially proposed that anyone practicing valuation without a valid certificate would face a fine of Shs100 million or imprisonment of up to two years. The Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, argued for a lower fine, suggesting Shs10 million as more realistic.

“It is okay to provide for a penalty, but 5,000 currency points (Shs100 million) is too much. Is it possible to scale it down and be a little more realistic? I am looking at Shs10 million,” he stated.

Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, noted the difficulty in fixing a penalty, suggesting 1,000 currency points (Shs20 million) as sufficient, and proposed leaving discretion to the courts.

“The effect of this problem might be so huge, in billions and yet the fine might be only Shs10 million or Shs5 million,” he said.

Speaker Anita Among guided that a maximum of 5,000 currency points be approved, in line with the committee’s report.

Following the adoption of the report after debate, the Bill was passed and now awaits the President’s assent.

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Parliament has amended the Building Control [Amendment] Bill, 2025, Cap.136, making provisions for harsh penalties for illegal construction and reforms to streamline building approval processes.

The Bill was passed during the plenary sitting of Tuesday chaired by Speaker Anita Among.

It seeks to redefine the composition and powers of the National Building Review Board [NBRB], reform the approval of building and occupation permits, and regulate the use of unconventional construction technologies.

One of the key penalties is increment of fines for building without valid permits. The offenders will be liable to imprisonment of up to five years and payment of two currency points, an equivalent of Shs 40,000 for each square metre of the built-up area.

“This will go a long way in addressing the rise in erection of illegal structures and the collapse of buildings in the country. We note the increase in the number of illegal structures being erected by persons who have not obtained building permits and the number of structures that collapse and claim multiple lives and property,” said Tony Awany, Chairperson, Committee of the Physical Infrastructure while presenting the committee report on the Bill.

The same modification was recommended for those who continue building after their permits have expired.

Attempts by the Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, to retain the penalty at one currency point [Shs 20,000] per square metre and a sentence of two years of imprisonment was met with resistance.

Lawmakers said the stricter penalties are necessary to address the rising cases of illegal structures and building collapses that have claimed lives across the country.

In cases where the local Building Committees delay or fail to issue building or occupation permits, the new Bill grants applicants the right to appeal to the NBRB if no decision is made within the stipulated timelines.

The Bill supports the government proposal to reduce the National Building Review Board from 16 to 09 members, noting that a smaller team would enhance efficiency, accountability and reduce costs.

The legislators however, rejected the proposal by the government to include two members of the public as nominated by the minister, warning that this could politicise the technical body.

They also rejected the proposal to include a lawyer from professional associations since the Attorney General’s Chambers already provides legal representation.

Instead, the legislators okayed representatives from the Ministries of Transport and Works; Labour, Gender and Social Development; Lands, Housing and Urban Development; Local Government; and the Attorney General’s Chambers, alongside professionals in engineering, architecture, physical planning, and surveying.

The Speaker vouched for retention of a representative of persons with disabilities on the board, saying currently most buildings do not provide for their needs. “We are saying the Bill should be specific with disabilities, to ensure there is a representative to take care of their interests,” Among said.

The Youth Representative for Western Uganda, Edson Rugumayo, argued that the representation on the NBRB should be able to include other interest groups such as lactating mothers, and matters of occupational safety and health.

If passed, the new law will significantly tighten Uganda’s building regulations, strengthen accountability in the construction industry, and help curb unsafe developments.

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