Plots from 50/100

The 50 by 100 plot

Our standard residential plot measures 50 by 100 feet, which is 5,000 square feet or about 465 square metres. That works out to about a ninth of an acre, so an acre holds a little under nine of them before you set aside roads and open space. Larger plots turn up in some estates, so ask about the area you like.

Building on your plot

A plot this size takes a modest family house with a yard, though the exact footprint depends on local planning rules, which set how close a building can sit to the boundary and to the road. Show your architect the plot dimensions before you fix a design.

Construction needs an approved building plan. In Uganda, the physical planning committee of the district or town council reviews plans, so apply before you break ground and keep the approval with your title documents.

Water, power and roads

Check how far the nearest power line runs, whether piped water from the National Water and Sewerage Corporation reaches the area, and what a borehole would cost if it does not. Neighbours who already live there can tell you what they pay and how reliable each service is.

Look at the road as well. Wakiso Town lies about 18 kilometres northwest of Kampala, Kakiri about 30 kilometres and Namayumba about 47, all along the Kampala to Hoima road, so a plot's road access shapes your daily commute and the price you could get if you sell later.

Before you pay for a plot

Match the plot number on the survey plan to the plot you walked, and find the boundary stones at the corners. Confirm that the sale agreement names the plot number and the size, and that the register shows no caveat or mortgage on the land. If the plot is the seller's family home, ask for the spouse's written consent.

Buying to hold

An empty plot invites encroachment. Fence it, plant a hedge or ask a trusted neighbour to watch it, and visit from time to time so people can see the land has an owner.