Engineers Left Exposed as Building Control Amendment Slip Under The Radar
By Immanuel Ben Misagga
Have you observed the widespread debate surrounding the controversial Protection of Sovereignty Bill? From the highest offices of Cabinet and the Bank of Uganda to taxis, churches, and markets, every Ugandan seems to have an opinion—regardless of their grasp of the substance.
Such national discourse is not only welcome but necessary. It reflects a society engaging with legislation that affects all—from billionaires to peasants. It is a debate worth following.
Yet amid all this noise, it is easy to forget that just weeks ago, Parliament quietly debated amendments to the Building Control Act. These amendments, largely focused on increasing penalties for non-compliance and streamlining the building approval process, passed with barely a whisper from the public.
And yet, their impact is universal. From the fundi on site to the consulting engineer, from developers to homeowners—every Ugandan living under a roof stands to be affected.
Where was the public “vibe”? Where was the scrutiny?
To me, the silence reflects a deeper issue: the engineering profession has been rendered a hostage.
The proposed amendments carry far-reaching implications, particularly for professional standards, public safety, and infrastructure development. But the institutions mandated to protect the profession have remained conspicuously quiet.
The Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), whose constitutional mandate is to “promote, advance and protect the engineering profession,” has not convened a single town hall, issued a strong public statement, or petitioned Parliament.
The consequences are alarming.
The amendments appear to empower building control officers—who are not necessarily engineers—to approve or reject structural drawings. In effect, planners may now override engineers on highly technical matters.
Equally concerning is the silence of the Engineers Registration Board. Established to regulate and control engineers, ERB seems to have ceded ground to the National Building Review Board, which now duplicates its oversight role.
This duplication creates an unnecessary burden. Engineers—over 8,000 of them—may soon find themselves subject to dual regulation and double licensing costs simply to practise their profession.
This is not regulation; it is redundancy.
ERB’s inaction suggests a failure to safeguard the profession. It is allowing engineering authority to be diluted in Parliament without resistance.
In contrast, figures like Michael Atingi-Ego have demonstrated courage by publicly opposing aspects of the Protection of Sovereignty Bill—even when it enjoys backing from powerful institutions like the Finance Ministry.
Why can’t engineering bodies show similar resolve?
Today, the reality is troubling: technical authority is being surrendered. Building control officers, who may lack engineering training, are being positioned to overrule trained engineers on structural decisions.
Consider this: would the Uganda Law Society ever allow a magistrate to overrule a judge on matters of law? Unthinkable.
Yet in engineering, such a scenario is quietly being normalized.
ERB appears to have accepted this duplication of roles. While it licenses engineers, NBRB vets them again. It is, quite simply, double taxation of competence.
Uganda deserves better.