Masaka City Introduces digital system to track fraud in approval of building plans

MASAKA– Masaka City Building Committee has introduced an online system to approve building plans and issue certificates to owners of the projects in a bid to curb fraud in the process.

This e-system was donated by the Ministry of Works and Transport. Masaka City building committee members have got individual accounts on this system and every stage of approval will be monitored to detect any fraud during transaction.

Masaka City clerk, Geoffrey Bamanyisa said many developers have been giving bribes to some staff and have not been submitting plans for approval. He said 70 percent of developers in the city have constructed their buildings illegally.

He said the installed e-system will help the city boost revenue collections from the building industry as it tracks developers, architects, surveyors, and structural engineers.

He said the e-system will also reduce the time taken to approve building plans, easing the cost of doing business in the city’s building industry.

Masaka City physical planner, Martin Kigozi explained that this e-system will enable the proper planning for the city and that there will be no need for developers to submit hard copy of plans.

”Using this e-system, there will be less printing of plans and the assessment will be manual so that you developers do their self assessment and pay the money direct to Uganda Revenue Authority [URA].

Kigozi said they hired Stanfield Property Partners Limited to prepare a five-year physical development plan 2021/22-2024/25 to promote orderly and sustainable development of the city.

He said the plans ensure proper land use as well as ensuring housing standards in the city.

He said they have done structural integrity assessment reviews with the owners of the buildings to obtain proper approval of their plans.

”Proper planning of the city will attract investors who will constructed well planned buildings and

such investments will increase business opportunities,” he said adding that this will create some jobs for city dwellers.

According to the new building guidelines, an application from a developer to develop a particular piece of land should be accompanied by a development concept prepared by a qualified physical planner.

Kigozi said the stakeholders in building value chain including architects engineers, surveyors and developers should follow the proper procedures before granting building and construction permission.

The chairperson of the building committee, Alice Nannungi said authorities in the city have carried out

structural integrity tests on all buildings and about 190 new commercial and residential buildings have

acquired approved plans. She said old buildings that were constructed during colonial times have had their plans presented to the city council for review.

Nannungi said there is still a challenge of the increasing population where people from other parts of the country have settled in structures that were built without formal approval.

She said those staying in the peri-urban areas of Nyendo, Mukungwe, Kyabakuza, and Kabonera are grappling with poor sanitation and hygiene posing health risks, urging landlords to renovate or upgrade their buildings to required standards.

https://thecooperator.news/masaka-city-central-market-to-be-commissioned-end-of-year/

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