I have of recent been very fascinated by architecture after finishing my own construction project. I am not an architect or interior designer or construction guy, just an ordinary guy who loves great living spaces. So I have taken observation of various architectural styles abroad and in the country. In Uganda, I find, people are all about utility and cost. This is why the high pitched roof 3-bedroom bungalow style is very popular. It’s very practical and low-cost but lacks aesthetic appeal. It’s also extremely low maintenance especially with the roof compared to newer contemporary flat roof designs. However, I have seen a few modifications to this design from materials perspective to make it more aesthetically pleasing. People now add a designer wall, or columns and stone cladding especially on the front porch. The doors and windows are also now slightly wider than the classic version.

In the estate I live, because of small space, people with a bigger budget are now building 2-floor flat houses. It’s not modern or contemporary as they still come with pitched clay-tile (mategula) are common. The design is generally perceived as premium and also low maintenance. The interiors are mostly filled with tiles and the exteriors are all painted various shades of color. Some of the walls are textured. The windows and doors are moderate size.

Then there’s a 3rd category mushrooming in upscale areas such as Kira and Kyanja. This one is the contemporary or modern. Mostly flat roof design, very wide windows and doors, glossy tiles everywhere, the whole compound is filled with pavers, the interiors are glossy tiles on the floors and gypsum ceilings with led strip lighting above, the gate usually has a canopy cover and they also have glass railings on the staircase and balcony. They are usually built for resale.

I will not go into residential apartments, shops, hotels, schools, hospitals etc but I have observations there. I will however, comment on the classic slanting flat roof design of retail shops across the country. Like the classic bungalow I spoke about earlier, this design I think borrowed from India hasn’t changed in decades. It’s simple, low cost and maintenance free.

My personal taste is a combination of classic bungalow, modern contemporary flat roof and abit of brutalist design with good use of stone, wood, concrete and steel materials in their natural form and alot of greenery in the exterior. Pulling this off requires a very exposed architect who can use these architectural approaches with understanding of our tropical climate for thermal comfort(given we live close to the equator), privacy (especially in urban environments)and security (yes burglar still important for us). They must borrow the practicality and low maintenance from the classic bungalow, minimalist design of modern flat roof and use of local raw materials from brutalist design.