The Concrete Corner
The Concrete Corner is a monthly technical note by Eco Concrete Ltd on practical construction realities in Uganda
Published Issues
Durability design of concrete in aggressive urban runoff environments
Focusing on the realities of our urban and environmental challenges; particularly in Kampala and beyond. While compressive strength has long been the dominant metric for approving mixes and projects, Issue 001 shifts the spotlight to durability as the primary driver of sustainable and resilient concrete infrastructure, especially in aggressive exposure conditions such as sewage-loaded urban runoff.
Waterproofing and Rising Damp in Uganda
Issue 002 addresses rising damp systematically: its mechanisms, the design and site failures that allow it to take hold, and the interventions; chemical, structural, and procedural, that can stop it permanently. We also examine binder selection, admixtures, and curing practices that reduce porosity from the outset, making moisture management a core durability requirement rather than a remedial afterthought.
Ready Mix Concrete: Quality, Control and Performance in the Construction Industry.
In issue 003, we explore: Ready-mix concrete quality and credibility in Uganda’s growing construction sector, the science and discipline behind proper batching and mix control, the structural consequences of unrecorded water addition during transit, and the importance of environmental responsibility in handling washout water and site operations.
The Building Control (Amendment) Act 2025
In Issue 004, we explore: the impact of the Building Control (Amendment) Act, 2025 on Uganda’s construction sector, stricter enforcement and scale-based penalties, expanded powers of Building Committees, increased professional liability for engineers, compliance with the National Building Code, and new pathways for innovation in materials and technologies.
The Maintenance Paradox
In Issue 005, we explore: the economics of building maintenance and asset longevity, the hidden costs of deferred and reactive maintenance, lifecycle costing in Uganda’s property sector, the relationship between maintenance, tenant retention and property value, practical strategies for preventive maintenance, and how property owners can determine whether their buildings remain productive assets or are quietly becoming liabilities.
Built to Last: The Bridges that Connect Uganda
In Issue 006, we explore: the critical role of bridges in connecting communities and sustaining economies, the engineering and economic consequences of bridge failures, the growing threat of scour and climate change on Uganda’s bridge infrastructure, the need for localized design standards, the importance of preventive maintenance and lifecycle asset management, and lessons from Uganda’s landmark bridges for building resilient infrastructure.