The Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, has launched the Building Industry Management System (BIMS) an online platform automating all Building Control Services.
With BIMS a developer can now apply for Building and Occupation Permits, Commit to the Services of Registered Professionals, Schedule Routine Building Inspections, Pay Building Control Fees and get Instant Feedback for the Services Requested Online. The system is in full operation in Kira Municipality and Kampala City and it has also been piloted in Entebbe, Jinja Soroti and Mbarara
It has been developed by a pool of local talent from the National Building Review Board (NBRB) and the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U).
While launching the system at Speke Resort Hotel Munyonyo, Minister Katumba Wamala, revealed that the system is improving supervision, monitoring and enforcement of existing Building laws as a solution to numerous building accidents, leading to loss of lives and property.
“After here I expect no more delays in the application and approvals of Building and Occupation Permits since the public now expects quick, efficient and transparent processes. The ultimate goal should be to put a stop to the endless building accidents, that give our country a negative image,” the Minister added.
The Executive Secretary of the National Building Review Board (NBRB) Eng. Flavia Gutto Bwire urged the stakeholders in the building sector to embrace the system since it is an outcome of a consultative process undertaken in 2020.
“It was evident after consultations that digitizing the building control processes was the only way of improving efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and predictability in the sector,” Bwire emphasized.
BIMS is integrated with the National Land Information system (NLIS) under the Ministry of Lands for land ownership verification, URA for building control fees payments and verification of TIN numbers, URSB for company registration verification, NIRA for NIN verification, Architects Registration Board, Surveyors Registration Board, and Engineers Registration Board for identification of registered professional.
At the launch, the Minister handed over BIMS equipment including the 2 all-in-one desktop computers, a printer and internet connectivity to 25 local authorities which have been activated on the system.
The event was also attended by the State minister of Works and Transport Musa Ecweru.