Government has pledged to continue supporting surveyors, through there association, the Institution of Surveyors in Uganda (ISU), and there regulatory body, Surveyors Registration Board (SRB).
The pledge, was made by the Minister of Works and Transport, General Edward Katumba Wamala while officiating a Pre- AGM meeting for surveyors held at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
Katumba told surveyors that government is aware of the need to review the legal framework governing the surveyors.
“We appreciate that a lot still has to be done especially in supporting with reviewing the legal framework for the Surveyors, right from engaging our sister ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development as regards to delegating my Ministry with the legal formulation process, especially for the Quantity Surveyors. We will also show support with the lands ministry as it tables the Valuation Bill and Amendments to the Survey Act,” he noted.
He said that Surveyors play an important role, especially regarding Land, which is the most important factor of production, saying that As experts in land and built environment matters, surveyors are very important in the development of a country.
Katumba advised the Surveyors especially in the private sector to understand the role they play especially in strengthening the fundamentals of the economy which include infrastructure of energy, transport, water oil and gas among others.
The transport minister noted that as a ministry, they will continue to provide the strategic direction in land related infrastructure development, saying the bulk of the construction must be undertaken by private surveyors.
Adding, “Government also continues to recognize and appreciate the role of Surveyors, For example, in2019 the section of Valuation in MLHUD was upgraded to a full department of valuation with the objective of streamlining the valuation services offered in the Country, all which will contribute to growth of the profession, I am optimistic that the same kind of growth will expand to other Surveying professions, such as Quantity Surveyors and land Surveyors, I pledge full support.”
He revealed that his ministry will continue to open it’s doors to discussion of relevant regulations and rekindle Bills which, when enacted, will go along way in streamlining the surveying profession.
Delivering his speech, Dr Nathan Kibwami the President of ISU noted that as Surveyors, they still have a number of challenges with many people masquerading in their profession, which creates a bad image.
Kibwami noted that massive sensitization is still lacking in guiding the Public on who a right Surveyor is.
“We need new and/or updated Laws to match up-to the current Surveying practices. We are often attacked and injured or killed while on duty – the recent incident in Karamoja where our colleagues (Mining Surveyors) were attacked, and the earlier one last year in Gomba are only a few of the examples. We therefore need support from you, the Government and relevant Ministries. The role of the Surveying Professionals in the economic development of this country is paramount, and they should thus be supported,” he noted.
Kibwami, also Called for the expedition of the appointment of the Surveyors Registration Board, which is mandated by the Surveyors Registration Act (1974), by the minister of lands as it is in her mandate.
“Our regulatory Head is the Surveyors Registration Board, mandated by the Surveyors Registration Act (1974) – unfortunately we are yet to have a new board, as previous’ term has expired (Rhetorically, we are currently Headless),” he said.
He noted that the ISU is a Professional Association that brings together Land Surveying, Valuation Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Mining and Hydrological Surveying professionals in Uganda, comprising of over 1600 members (25% Women) who range from Technicians, Graduates, Professional Associates, Professional Members, and Fellows.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Sustainable Urban Development: The Role of Land and Built Environment Professionals”, which Kibwamu said is apt for the global and local agenda
Adding, “The world is grappling with how to achieve sustainable development goals, where as in Uganda, our National Development Plan 3 also emphasizes programs on Sustainable urbanization. As professionals, what better place can we gather to chat about such agenda, other than a Pre AGM conference like this.”