Title: Implementing building projects: considering construction waste, uncertainties and cost overruns

Authors: Susan Watundu; Avuni Alfred; Noah Mwelu; Lihoya Chamwali; Gideon Nkurunziza

Addresses: Makerere University Business School, Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda ' Freewheels Forex Bureau Limited, Kampala, Uganda ' Makerere University Business School, Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda ' Mzumbe University, Dar es Salaam Campus - Tegeta Centre, Morogoro, Mvomero, Tanzania ' Makerere University Business School, Nakawa Division, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract: Increasing cost overruns in building construction projects have attracted concern from industry players and academicians since actual cost of completing the projects exceeds the original contract price by about 30%. This contributes to existing body of knowledge by examining the relationship between construction wastes, uncertainties, and cost overruns in building construction projects in Uganda. A cross-sectional research design and quantitative research approach was employed and data analysed using SPSS (v20). The findings indicate that construction waste and uncertainties are significant predictors of cost overruns and both account for 65.4% of cost overruns in building construction project. Particularly, construction waste (β = 0.426, t = 6.675, p = 0.000) is the greatest predictor of cost overruns compared to uncertainties (β = 0.307, t = 4.381, p = 0.000). Hence, project managers should aim at reducing construction wastes and uncertainties in minimising cost overruns in the building construction sub sector.

Keywords: construction waste; uncertainties; cost overruns; building projects; Uganda.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSRECE.2023.136441

International Journal of Sustainable Real Estate and Construction Economics, 2023 Vol.2 No.3/4, pp.292 - 310

Received: 02 Dec 2022
Accepted: 06 Jan 2023
Published online: 01 Feb 2024 *

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