Experts say housing deficit to hit Uganda.

Uganda is likely to face a bigger housing deficit of 12.6 million housing units, if no tough measures are taken to address the issue.

According to the National Development Plan II, with the current population growth rate of 3. 4% and 5.2% urbanization rate, the demand for housing units is likely to dramatically shoot up.

Kasaijja the finance minister.

While launching the second annual Uganda Housing Finance Conference 2016 on Thursday, Finance Minister, Matia Kasaijja, said that even though the number of grass thatched houses has reduced by 10% from 38% in 2006 to 28% in 2014, more efforts are needed to ensure 100% decent housing in Uganda.

Kasaijja also urged housing companies to lower the cost of the units they sell and mortgage loans to enable rural people benefit as well.

Currently Uganda has 1.6 million housing deficit with 220,000 housing units needed in urban areas.