Housing Finance Bank took discussions on real estate, housing and infrastructure investment to Mbarara as industry stakeholders gathered for the Ankole Real Estate & Infrastructure Conference.
The conference, held on August 21, 2026, at Igongo Country Hotel in Mbarara, was part of Knight Frank Uganda’s Real Estate Development and Investment Summit (REDi) initiative.
The engagement came as Mbarara continued to strengthen its position as a major commercial centre in Western Uganda, driven by a growing population, increased business activity and investment across the wider Ankole region.
The growth has created rising demand for residential housing, commercial property and supporting infrastructure, while opening new opportunities for developers, investors and financial institutions.
Housing Finance Bank joined developers, financiers, urban planners, policymakers and other industry stakeholders at the conference to examine emerging investment opportunities and the financing required to translate the region’s potential into sustainable development.
The Mbarara conference followed the Acholi Real Estate and Infrastructure Conference held in Gulu, where stakeholders explored Northern Uganda’s real estate and infrastructure investment potential.
Discussions in Gulu highlighted opportunities in residential housing, logistics, warehousing, hospitality and student accommodation, while also examining financing challenges that can prevent viable projects from progressing.
For Housing Finance Bank, the Gulu engagement demonstrated the value of bringing financiers and other industry players into regional discussions on property development.
The bank subsequently carried the conversation to Mbarara, focusing on investment opportunities and financing needs emerging from Western Uganda’s continued economic growth.
Mbarara’s position as a commercial hub serving the wider Ankole region has made it an increasingly important market in Uganda’s real estate sector. Growing business activity and investment have supported demand for residential and commercial property while creating a need for improved infrastructure and more coordinated urban development.
At the conference, Housing Finance Bank contributed to discussions on how appropriate financing can support property development and make real estate investment more accessible to individuals, families and businesses.
The bank said its approach is centred on developing financing solutions that reflect how Ugandans build and invest, rather than relying solely on conventional financing models.
Dorothy Namutebi, Head of Mortgages and Consumer Banking at Housing Finance Bank, said the bank was committed to ensuring individuals and investors could participate in the growth of regional economies.
“As regional towns such as Mbarara continue to grow, the demand for housing and property investment is growing alongside them. At Housing Finance Bank, our role is to ensure that individuals, families and investors have access to financing solutions that enable them to participate in this growth,” Namutebi said.
She said the bank offers solutions covering mortgages, incremental housing finance and construction financing to support homeownership and property development.
One of the bank’s products is Zimba Mpola Mpola, an incremental housing loan that enables customers to finance construction in phases instead of taking on a large mortgage upfront.
The product allows customers to build progressively in line with their income and financial capacity, providing an alternative to financing an entire construction project at once.
The Mbarara conference provided stakeholders with an opportunity to examine the region’s investment potential and discuss practical measures needed to support its next phase of development.
For Housing Finance Bank, the engagement formed part of its broader commitment to Uganda’s housing and real estate sector, while deepening its engagement with regional markets and the people, businesses and investors driving their growth.
