Kampala — The government has put forward a Building Control Bill to regulate players in the construction industry and guarantee planned and secure building structures in the country.

State Minister for Works Mr Simon Ejua said the National Construction Policy has reached the Cabinet and will soon be tabled before parliament for ratification.

"The policy will soon be discussed by the Cabinet, it will help to streamline the construction industry and avoid briefcase construction firms," Mr Ejuwa said during the inauguration of Uganda National Association of Builders Civil Engineers and Constructors (Unabcec) executive committee at Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday.

He urged local construction firms to work closely with the Uganda National Road Authority to develop broad ideas. The Bill, among others, demands that a person whose negligence causes or results into an accident on a construction site resulting into death of people, commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment up to 12 years.

The offense also attracts a fine not less than Shs20m. Buildings owners would also be charged under this law for hiring unprofessional engineers to manage their construction sites.

Unabcec Chairman Gumisiriza Birantana asked the government to support the engineers' association as a way of weeding out masquerading contractors and engineers. "We propose that government makes Unabcec subscription a prerequisite of awarding contracts to any construction firm. This will help to identify incompetent firms," Mr Birantana said.

The ministry also plans to amend the current Engineers Registration Act (1969), to ensure registration of engineers. The new amendment would include an annual practicing license for whoever practices the profession in both private and partnership capacity.

Association General Secretary Pius Mugerwa Mugalasi said the policy will help the association to regulate contractors and craft order in the construction industry. Statistics indicate that at least 50 percent of the buildings in Kampala lack approved architectural plans as required by the law.

These have been blamed on city authorities' failure to enforce policies, laws and regulations.. Early this year, Kampala City Council suspended all major construction works to reduce the growing number of collapsing structures in the capital. Last year, seven people died and two were injured when a retaining wall collapsed at the National Social Security Fund building in upper Kampala.

The NSSF incident was followed by a similar accident at the forrmer Sax Pub on Luwum Street where one person died. The high-rise Hilton Hotel also claimed the loves of 3 workers..