Government has come up with a plan that will gradually help its MDAs to overcome large expenditures on renting offices where they operate from. We have seen a confidential government document that shows how much is required for the different MDAs to construct and have their own offices. Those whose construction plans and budgets have been approved include the works ministry whose PS Waiswa Baligeya confirmed to this news website that they are now looking for Shs85.5bn for the project. “We are considering to situate our permanent headquarters in Entebbe but that is not for now because where we are operating is still okay small as it is. We don’t want to divert money from priority projects to go into that now but its work in progress,” Baligeya said. Allen Kagina’s UNRA too has been authorized to make preparations and fundraise to erect its own headquarters at Shs47bn. Another Shs3.9trn is being sought to erect the government campus in Bwebajja where all government ministries are being proposed to be housed in a one stop center place. The managers of PPP Unit in the Finance Ministry have since been tasked to come up with proposals on how the private sector can be harnessed to make this proposed government campus a reality. Doreen Katusiime’s ministry of tourism too has been cleared by Finance (which Muhakanizi heads) to commence the process to prepare to build their own headquarters which is budgeted to cost Shs50.52bn. The Inspectorate of Government, ably headed by Irene Mulyagonja, is another entity that has been cleared to spend Shs100.7bn to construct their own headquarters on the vacant plot opposite Garden City. It’s between Garden City and Uganda Media Center or Crested Towers. After the Finance Ministry clearance, the concerned MDA has to embark on a very difficult process of getting the Office of the President to authorize them to construct. Since time immemorial, the Presidency (whose current secretary is Deborah Katuramu) has been the lead agency on matters to do with office accommodation for all government MDAs and they must give their clearance even when a land lord is entering the rental contract for any MDA. That is the same power they used to reject the deal Ceaser Mulenga had entered for Elioda Tumwesigye’s Science & Technology Ministry to rent his new building opposite Christ the King Church in Kampala. The security ministry, headed by Elly Tumwine, is another government entity that has been cleared to spend some good money constructing office space. The proposed construction include Kitante Medical Center at Shs5bn. The others are the Institute of Security & Intelligence Studies along Hoima Road at Shs5.9bn; ESO Headquarters at Shs45.6bn still at Hoima Road and revitalization of Uganda Prisons Industries at Shs32.7bn. There are also plans to construct 30,000 UPDF Housing units. On top of all these is the multi-storied office complex that will host the joint headquarters for Eng Micheal Odongo’s Uganda Road Fund and Benson Tumuramye’s PPDA. The construction is already underway along Nakasero Road next to the Nigerian High Commission. For comments, call/text/whatsapp us on 0703164755.
