Population Exposure

The most densely populated urban areas consist of approximately 200 persons per 100-metre cell grid. In addition to the north-eastern terri tory, which is largely semi-arid, the least populated areas are mostly occupied by game parks and forests. Although most regions around past earthquake epicentres in western Uganda are relatively less populated compared with the central and eastern parts of the country, the growing economic activity and rapid urbanization which has led to the creation of major regional cities (e.g., Fort Portal, Hoima and Mbarara) are likely to increase the human and housing population in these areas, thereby posing increasing seismic risks.

Kampala capital city and its immediate environs comprise the most highly populated areas, followed by the border trade districts and regional cities. With increasing population, urbanisation and rapid construction, seismic risk in the country is escalating fast and is compounded by the high vulnerability of the building stock and inadequate disaster prevention and mitigation strategies. Hence, there is an urgent need to assess Uganda’s resilience against seismic risks.

Human-Induced Risks in the Built Environment

Addressing Preventable Disasters

While Uganda is exposed to natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and floods, a significant proportion of risks in the built environment arise from human-induced factors. These include:

1. Fire outbreaks in buildings, markets, and public facilities
2. Structural failures and building collapses
3. Construction accidents and unsafe site practices
4. Infrastructure failures linked to design, material, or workmanship deficiencies

Unlike natural hazards, these risks are largely preventable and are often associated with non-compliance with building standards, use of substandard materials, and inadequate supervision. The SERENE Project recognizes that building safety must address both natural and artificial hazards to achieve a truly resilient built environment.

Fire Risk & Building Safety

Fire as a Critical Urban Risk

Fire outbreaks represent one of the most frequent and damaging hazards affecting Uganda’s built environment, particularly in urban centres, informal settlements, and public buildings. Common causes include:

1. Faulty electrical installations
2. Lack of fire safety systems (alarms, extinguishers, escape routes)
3. Poor building design and materials
4. Overcrowding and informal construction

These events often result in:

1. Loss of life and livelihoods
2. Destruction of property and infrastructure
3. Disruption of economic activity

Strengthening Fire Safety through the SERENE project

SERENE will contribute to improving fire safety by:

1. Supporting evidence-based updates to building regulations and standards
2. Integrating fire risk considerations into building vulnerability assessments
3. Enhancing data collection on fire incidents and building performance
4. Promoting safe construction practices and materials
5. Supporting tools such as the NBRB Fire Safety Assessment Toolkit