Robert Kaggwa Nsibirwa (Right), the Chairperson, Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity Uganda, awarding one of the winners in the individual submissionStudents of Kyambogo University are winners of group submission at the Habitat for Humanity Uganda Affordable Housing Students Awards.Held at Hotel Africana Hotel in Kampala, the event recognised outstanding student innovations in affordable and low-cost housing. International University of East Africa (ICEA) and Makerere University emerged 1st runner-up and second runner up respectively in the group submission category.In the individual submission, Kenneth Kiberu of Makerere University took the award. Winfred Munu (Makerere University) and Arthur Kisira (Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi) were 1st runner-up and second runner-up respectively.The Minister of State for Housing Persis Namuganza was the chief guest.“By bringing on board major Universities in the country does not only help us get top minds and innovative ideas but also brings on board young and dynamic energies to find solutions and contribute to affordable housing design solutions facing the country. As our populations grow at unprecedented percentages, we need these innovative ideas to shape the way we plan our rural and urban living spaces,’’ said Namuganza.In the competition, a number of expected outcomes included increased student engagement and practical learning in affordable housing designs, cost estimation and construction; improved quality and relevance of student generated housing solutions informed by professional feedback from experienced practitioners; strengthened linkages and partnerships between universities, professional bodies and Habitat for Humanity Uganda, and availability of low-cost housing designs that can be further developed and considered for real-world application and demonstration, among others.“I am impressed that these Awards recognize the gender aspects and encourages female participation in the design process as well as the entire ecosystem of housing including water and sanitation as well as the land that holds the housing. The competition is appreciated by promoting gender inclusion by encouraging participation from both male and female students and considering gender-responsive features in housing designs, such as safety, accessibility, and privacy,” Minister Namuganza said.She added: “Our capacity, efficiency and preparedness in managing land impacts not only on housing but also on essential basic services and livelihoods under the entire human settlement framework. The activity is further applauded by strengthening community resilience and prioritizing designs that respond to local needs, use sustainable and locally available materials, and being adaptable to rural and urban contexts.”The competition, forms part of the Addressing Homelessness through Market-Driven Approaches Project, challenged students in architecture, engineering, construction and related disciplines to develop housing solutions that are affordable, environmentally sustainable and suited to Uganda’s growing communities.Robert Kaggwa Nsibirwa, the Chairperson, Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity Uganda said: “At Habitat for Humanity Uganda, we believe that everyone deserves a safe and decent place to call home.”However, he added that “addressing the housing challenge goes beyond constructing houses.’’“It requires innovative thinking, strategic partnerships, and sustainable solutions that make decent housing accessible and affordable for all. Today’s initiative aligns closely with our mission and demonstrates the critical role that innovation can play in transforming lives and communities.’’Speaking ahead of the awards, Habitat for Humanity Uganda National Director, Paul Okiring said the competition demonstrates the power of young people to drive solutions to one of Uganda’s most pressing development challenges. “The University Affordable Housing Design Competition is about unlocking the creativity of young people to solve Uganda’s housing challenge. These students have shown that affordability, sustainability and quality can go hand in hand. Their designs demonstrate how local innovation can shape the future of housing in Uganda.According to Okiring, the winning projects were evaluated on creativity, technical feasibility, affordability, environmental sustainability and innovative use of locally available building materials.“Uganda faces a significant housing deficit driven by rapid urbanisation, population growth, rising construction costs and limited access to affordable housing finance. Habitat for Humanity Uganda is responding by promoting innovative building technologies, strengthening housing systems and supporting market-driven solutions that expand access to safe, decent and affordable housing for low-income families,’’ said Okiring.Citi Uganda CEO Sarah Arapta noted that achieving sustainable development in Uganda requires a collaborative ecosystem where financial institutions, civil society, academia and the public sector align.“While large-scale infrastructure projects drive macroeconomic progress, the ultimate measure of development is the dignity and economic mobility of our citizens, and decent housing is the cornerstone of that dignity. By supporting Habitat for Humanity Uganda, the Citi Foundation is helping to bridge the gap between academia and commercial viability. These student-led designs offer practical, scalable models that can attract private capital and policy support, turning the challenge of urbanization into an unprecedented opportunity for local economic empowerment,” said Arapta.Several of the winning concepts will now be refined into demonstration housing units, providing an opportunity to test and showcase innovative designs that can be adopted by developers, policymakers and communities. The designs will also be shared with government institutions, industry players and development partners to encourage wider adoption of affordable housing solutions.The post Young Innovators Lead the Way: Kyambogo, Makerere Students Win Big at Affordable Housing Awards appeared first on Business Focus.