An investigation into the barriers and drivers of sustainable construction in Uganda

Abstract

This study investigated the barriers and drivers to Sustainable Construction (SC) in Uganda, with the aim of developing a framework to promote its wider adoption. The construction industry has immensely contributed to the development of the economy. However, the impact to the environment arising from construction activities is significant. Despite increasing awareness among construction professionals, limited empirical data exists on the specific barriers and enablers of SC adoption in Uganda necessitating this investigation. Questionnaires were administered to 173 construction professionals (civil engineers, architects, surveyors, and environmentalists) primarily based in Kampala and Wakiso. The research adopted both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The data collected were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS and variables with Relative Importance Index (RII) greater than 0.8 were considered critical barriers and drivers. The findings revealed several barriers to SC, including limited market demand (RII: 0.90), limited public awareness about SC (RII: 0.86) among others. In terms of drivers, factors, such as reduction in natural resource use (RII: 0.84) and providing SC measurement (RII: 0.83) were found to motivate the adoption of SC. The study further assessed the level of awareness and interpretation of SC, highlighting the need for increased education on the benefits of SC. Based on the results, a framework was proposed, emphasizing the importance of government incentives and collaboration with stakeholders. The study provides valuable insights for promoting the wider adoption of SC in Uganda and lays the groundwork for future research and policy development.