Low-income tropical housing in Uganda today is a complex issue that extends beyond the physical dwelling and
encapsulates psychological notions, i.e. human ideals, needs, wants, aspirations, and economic ability. Rural construction continues
to expend significant quantities of energy and environmental resources in production of fired clay brick, the locally favoured choice.
Regrettably, the notion that this material is cheap escalates negligent handling during production, transportation and construction,
which then generate large quantities of waste.
This paper presents a study that seeks to evaluate people’s perceptions of the production and usage of fired Clay Bricks, then to
propose viable alternatives. People are a crucial entity in the struggle to: improve fuel efficiency at local Kilns, increase
reuse/repurposing of construction waste, then raise awareness about material embodied energy and subsequent energy demand on
communities. Despite evidence of associated negative impacts of brick production like deforestation, excessive soil extraction, energy
intensive production, and high waste, there is still rampant unregulated production. Cost, being a primary consideration for many
construction stakeholders, is interrogated as part of this search for a viable alternative. The alternative shall endeavour to minimize
production energy and construction waste, and possibly save up to 20% on the building cost. This study culminates in a student lead
design-build project. The Display Space at Uganda Martyrs University is a built attempt to investigate alternative wall materials as
well as building cost.