Helping bricks go green in Uganda

Uganda's population is growing rapidly, and the country is seeing an unprecedented surge in demand for housing and infrastructure. The construction industry is booming. While this offers opportunities for growth and development,  it also takes a severe toll on the environment. 

The buildings and construction sector is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for 37% of global emissions. The bricks-making process alone is a major source of air pollution. And in Uganda, the kiln fired bricks commonly used around the country mainly use local wood as their fuel, exacerbating deforestation.

Increasingly, engineers and architects are exploring sustainable alternatives. Marion Nuwahereza works for Eco Concrete, a company that makes cement with volcanic ash. Tests have shown that this product could cut emissions by 80% compared to the Portland cement widely used around the world. Still in a test phase, this geopolymer cement could soon be helping reduce the environmental impact of the building sector in Uganda.