Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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For many People , building a big family house is a lifelong dream. The bigger the house, the greater the sense of achievement — six bedrooms, a large sitting room, a spacious compound and enough room for the children, relatives and visitors.
But what happens when the children grow up, leave home and start families of their own?
You may be left with a beautiful house, but only two people living in it — while the bills, repairs, security and maintenance continue.
This is the reality former Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Asan Kasingye now finds himself confronting.
A house built for a family
In 2005, Kasingye bought an acre of land in Entebbe and built a double-storeyed, six-bedroom house.
At the time, the decision made sense. His children were young, and the house was soon filled with the noise and activity of a growing family.
The family moved in that December, and his last child was born there in 2008.
But nearly 20 years later, things have changed.
Kasingye, now in his 60s, lives in the house with his wife, a house help and a security guard. His children have grown up, with some getting married and others moving to Kampala.
Even when schools close, his children prefer staying in Kampala with their siblings rather than returning to the family home in Entebbe.
When the dream becomes expensive
The once-busy home now has several empty rooms, but the costs have not disappeared.
Kasingye says he has had to replace the roof several times, while electricity, security and general maintenance continue to consume money.
He also keeps the security and compound lights on throughout the night, adding to the bills.
For a retired couple, maintaining such a large property can become a financial burden.
And this raises a question many homeowners may eventually face: Should we build for the family we have today, or for the family we imagine having 20 years from now?
Kasingye's change of mind
Looking back, Kasingye says he would have made a different investment.
“I would have built apartments. Probably 30 units. I would live in one and rent out the rest,” he says.
He now sees apartments or a smaller home in a managed residential community as a better option for retirement — offering income, shared security and lower maintenance costs.
The idea became more real when he temporarily moved in with his children in Kampala while his Entebbe home underwent renovations.
While there, a broker offered about $2,000 (around Shs7.5 million) per month to rent his house.
“I wondered why it had not crossed my mind to commercialise it,” he says.
Kasingye is now considering renting out the house, buying a smaller two- or three-bedroom home for himself and his wife, or even partnering with a developer to replace the large house with apartments.
What should people do?
Kasingye says people should not rush to build huge houses simply because they can afford them.
He advises homeowners to build in phases, avoid unnecessary loans and focus on what they actually need.
At retirement, he says, he wants a simpler home where he and his wife can live comfortably, while their children can visit, share a meal and occasionally spend a night.
So, what do you think?
If you had an acre of land today, would you build your dream family home — or apartments that could generate income for your future?
Story by Daily Monitor
