I recently attended the 14th Annual International Real Estate Investment Conference & Expo 2025, where I was privileged to participate in a panel discussion that officially opened the event.

The conference was exceptionally well organized and highly attended, attracting several prominent figures in Uganda's real estate sector, including Judy Rugasira, who delivered the keynote address, and Dr. Edwin Musiime, who served as the moderator.

Also present were officials from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, representatives from government bodies such as the PSF, several international dignitaries, as well as numerous local developers, agents, and real estate agencies.

Each panelist was asked a unique real estate related question by the moderator, Dr. Edwin Musiime. Therefore, for the purpose of this context, I will focus only on my part of the discussion.

Edwin is known for his long-form, explanatory style of questioning, he lays a foundation and provides context before arriving at the main question. I actually appreciate this approach because it gives me enough time to mentally formulate a few bullet points while he sets up the question, and it also allows me to fully absorb the gravity of what is being asked.

In summary, Edwin's question to me was: "What are the technological options available to achieve affordable housing?"

However, he added an important caveat: that it is no longer acceptable to simply say that "affordable housing is relative," because such a statement does not solve the current housing crisis.

That caveat instantly eliminated a commonly used part of my usual response, as many of us often say that affordability is relative, a statement that is no longer inspiring or meaningful in the face of today's challenges. He further challenged our generation for failing to solve the affordable housing crisis despite having access to modern technological tools.

In answering Edwin's question on the technological options available, I began by referencing a relatively new housing technology recently tested in Kenya: 3D-printed construction. This technology uses a large printer and a special fine-grained concrete mixture to "print" the walls of a house once the foundation has been laid.

It can operate day and night without rest, unlike human labor. I added that, like most emerging technologies, 3D printing is still expensive today but is expected to become cheaper over time, ultimately reducing construction costs and contributing to affordable housing.

At that point, the moderator challenged me for using the words "expensive" and "affordable" in the same sentence, to which I clarified that "expensive" refers to the present reality, while "affordable" refers to the expected long-term outcome of 3D printing.

I then shifted the discussion back to the current situation by noting that the largest cost in construction typically lies in the materials. Once cheaper materials are adopted, the total cost of building a house becomes more affordable.

Several material-based technologies currently exist that can significantly reduce construction costs, including modular construction, interlocking/stabilized soil bricks, panel-based systems, wood-based structures, metallic or container houses (such as uni-ports used by the military and police), and bamboo-wall construction.

Unfortunately, many of these technologies have not been widely embraced in Africa due to concerns about security, cultural perceptions, design limitations, and regulatory constraints. For example, if burglars can breach metal doors, then wooden or panel-based walls may be seen as even more vulnerable. On the other hand, interlocking bricks resemble mud houses, which may contribute to social resistance against them.

Our panel discussion was interrupted by the arrival of the Guest of Honour. However, my core argument remains: as long as we rely solely on brick-and-mortar construction, housing will remain expensive. To achieve truly affordable housing, we must embrace alternative material technologies that lower construction costs.

Later in the session, Judy Rugasira of Knight Frank provided statistical context on affordable housing at the moderator's request, illustrating that an ideally affordable home would cost around 6 million.

To support the quest for affordable housing, the Real Estate Database (RED) offers properties across all prime categories, locations, and price ranges, ensuring that every buyer can find a home that fits within their "relative definition" of affordability.

Affordable housing is not just a goal, it is achievable if we combine technology, innovative materials, and strategic planning. The conversation at the 2025 conference highlighted that the tools exist; it's now a matter of adopting them.

Read more about affordable housing in the following blogs:

• What exactly is affordable housing?
• Affordable Housing in Uganda Is Not Profitablè, Here's Why.
• Does Affordable Mean Cheap, or Does Cheap Mean Affordable?
• Affordable housing Vs apartments, what's the relationship?
• Unveiling the secrets of finding affordable properties online with the Real Estate Database (RED).
• Uganda faces a catastrophic shortage of affordable housing as population booms.
• Why the housing development pace in Uganda is slow in catching up with the housing deficit.
• What are the technological options available to achieve affordable housing?