Uganda, April 9 -- Developers constructing buildings without approved permits now risk paying fines of up to Shs4 million under the new Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2026, signed into law by President Museveni.

A 100-square-metre residential building constructed without a permit could cost the developer Shs4 million, while the use of prohibited methods such as steel-timber-concrete composites could attract fines of Shs100,000 per square metre. 

Liability for construction-related accidents has also gone through the roof, with penalties rising from 288 currency points (Shs5.6m) to 500 currency points (Shs10 million), or 12 years in prison or both.

The amendments, which took effect on March 19, aim to curb illegal construction, e...