While a house in the Kigo project costs at least Shs300m, someone will be able to own a complete house in Ssentema for as little as Shs 45m, and it will be payable in a space of three years.
Housing experts say this is a big bargain when you consider the real estate market in Uganda and the fact that this comes with planned development.
Bashir Kizito, the head of operations and corporate affairs at Buganda Land Board, says that Uganda’s real estate market today is awash with houses on sale, but the cheapest you can find is about Shs 90m.
This means that such a house is affordable for middle-income earners, leaving out those in need of low-cost housing. Worse, some real estate dealers have compromised the quality of the product in the name of providing cheap houses.
“That is why this offer is very unique. Kabaka dedicated his kingship to the young generation. These are people who have just joined the workforce, earning an average income. So, if someone offers them a house at Shs 45m, I think they can easily re-channel their would-be house rent into paying for this house across three years,” Kizito argues.
Guoji, the constructors of the posh Mirembe Villas housing project in Kigo, have now shifted their focus to constructing affordable houses in Ssentema, which is just 20km from Kampala.
They will build one-bedroomed, two-bedroomed and three-bedroomed houses in a phased project, starting with 50 acres at Ssaza grounds in Busiro. The project has been approved by Wakiso district local government. This presents an opportunity for many young people to own quality houses.
“Our society demonizes renting and in the end young people are forced to start constructing houses even when they don’t have the means to finish them. And they thereafter move into incomplete houses. Now the Ssentema offer can save them this burden,” Kizito says.
While delivering Buganda’s budget speech last month, the 2nd deputy Katikkiro and treasurer, Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa said the kingdom is going to spend Sh18bn on infrastructure development and investments of its Shs109b total budget.
“The grand plan for the development of the Ssentema project has already been approved by Wakiso district. Installation of running water lines and connecting the estate to the national power grid has already been done. If it were not for Covid-19, the construction would already be underway,” Nsibirwa said.
According to Kizito, the Ssentema estate is developed under the concept of an organized gated community with comprehensive amenities to give convenient, secure and comfortable living to all its residents.
“The estate will have schools, shopping malls, health centres and leisure parks to allow people interact with each other outside their homes in the public space. This will create a spirit of community living, which is one of the priorities of the kingdom. This will be an independent community, whereby residents will not need to go to Kampala for any social services,” he said.
The first phase of the project, which was signed off in December 2018 between Guoji and Buganda Land Board, shall accommodate approximately 400 units of single-storeyed houses.
This means if each house accommodates five people, about 2,000 Ugandans will soon get off the list of the rising national housing deficit, which stood at about 1.2 million units by 2019, according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics.
It is commonplace that most settlements on Buganda Kingdom-owned land are irregular and unplanned because the land attracted illegal occupants in the aftermath of the 1966 crisis.
It is in this spirit that the Buganda Kingdom strategic plan established the construction of Mirembe Villas in Kigo and Ssentema. There are also plans to build low-cost housing units in Mayembe Ga Mbogo village in Mpigi district.
Most people have welcomed the idea that they can acquire houses in instalments. Imagine a deal where you won’t have to hustle with property dealers to secure a plot or stress with contractors stealing your building materials!
An advert by Guoji notes that one can make an initial deposit of Shs 4, 560,000 to secure a plot and later pay Shs 13, 680,000 to get a sales agreement. Then they would have to pay the rest in 24 months. There is no interest on the instalments.
Social media comments
“I have had some issues with Buganda Kingdom operations, but what the Kabaka has done with Ssentema has made me fall in love with them. I think this is the best housing deal one can ever get in Uganda,” noted Amon Kwikiriza, an IT specialist.
“So good an opportunity for one to own a planned home! Let’s join hands to appreciate the Kabaka for appointing Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga who has put together a winning team that is restoring Buganda’s glory days. Historical Katikkiro!” a one Ahmed Bogere Masembe posted on social media.
Expert speaks
Mohammed Nsereko, a construction expert, says it is very possible to build a one-bedroomed house at Shs 45m.
“That money is enough, depending on the finishing. If it is ordinary finishing, without embellishments, then you can build a house with Shs 45m,” he says.
He adds: “Shs 45m is enough to build a three-bedroomed house, even with a roof, but you have to use slightly less expensive iron sheets. However, with a three-bedroomed house, the Shs 45m will be structurally done and you would be left with plastering, painting, wiring…, basically finishing the house to make it complete.”