Irene Namusitwa, a statistician at UBOS, attributed the drop to the entry of new players in the construction materials market, which has increased competition and led to fairer pricing.

“Whenever there are new players in the market, we get fair deals, and that’s when prices of cement and other construction materials begin to go down,” Namusitwa said.

The report shows that on a month-to-month basis, construction sector input inflation was flat at 0.0% in February 2025, compared to a 0.2% increase in January 2025. This was largely driven by a 0.1% decline in input inflation for building construction, reversing the 0.2% rise recorded the previous month.

Specifically, input inflation for residential buildings fell by 0.2% in February, after increasing by 0.2% in January. Among the construction inputs that saw price declines in February 2025.

Cement prices dropped by 0.2%, compared to a 1.0% increase in January; high tensile steel bars prices fell by 0.3%, after a 0.2% increase in January. Equally, iron, steel, and aluminum plates, rods, and angles saw a 0.9% drop, following a 0.6% decrease in January while Timber prices registered the most significant decline, down 1.5%, compared to no change in January.

However, not all materials saw a decrease. Prices for paint and varnishes rose by 0.7% in February, compared to no change in January while clay bricks and tiles increased by 0.3% during the same period.

The decline in prices offers a potential boost for builders and developers, particularly those planning new residential and commercial projects, as construction costs begin to ease after a period of consistent inflation.

The Government of Uganda received financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the Namagumba – Budadiri – Nalugugu road upgrading Project. The objective of upgrading the road from gravel to paved standard is to improve mobility, trade, and tourism within Eastern Uganda. The project road is not only a national road but also links to Mt. Elgon National Park. Consequently, the project also includes the Mt. Elgon National Park Road (3 km) and the Budadiri-Bugitimwa link (5 km).

The Rt. Hon. Nabbanja, representing His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, urged the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to ensure efficient supervision of the project to guarantee quality work. She also instructed UNRA to include the construction of a 1 km access road to the headquarters of North Mbale Diocese, following a request from the Right Reverend Samuel Gidudu, the Bishop of North Mbale Diocese. She urged the community to be vigilant for the theft of road construction materials and encouraged collaboration to ensure the contractor delivers a high-quality road.

Engineer Samuel Muhoozi, the Director of Roads and Bridges Development at UNRA represented the UNRA Executive Director. He emphasized the road project’s commitment to promoting road safety to minimize accidents. The project includes creating a Master Plan for Budadiri and Sironko Districts, conducting feasibility studies for new roads, providing vocational training, updating Gender Mainstreaming Tools and Data, supplying ambulances and vehicles, establishing a Road Crash Trauma Centre, and revamping feeder roads.

The project aims to install footbridges in hard-to-reach areas to improve accessibility.

Eng. Muhoozi stated that all the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) are set to receive compensation before construction work begins. He also mentioned that the compensation funds are included in the project budget, and urged the leaders to ensure that there are no land disputes or related issues that would hinder the project.

Hon. Wamala Nambozo Florence, the State Minister of Karamoja Affairs, expressed appreciation to the government for the upcoming road construction project that will improve access in the Bugisu sub-region.

The construction works will cost Ugx.129 billion and will be executed by Shandong Luqiao Group Co., Ltd. The groundbreaking event was attended by cultural, political, and district leaders, as well as representatives from UNRA, AfDB, and the contractor among others.