UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The Parliament of Uganda has secured office space at Tycoon Sudhir’s Kampala Kingdom building for 323 Members of Parliament. The two-year deal will cost UGX 18 Billion.
Helen Kawesa, Parliament’s Assistant Director Communications and Public Affairs (CPA), says Parliament is to spend USh 800 million on rent monthly, as they wait for new chambers’ completion.
The new parliamentary chambers are currently under construction by ROKO Construction Limited. Upon completion, the USh 206 billion project will accommodate 600 MPs. Factors associated with the COVID-19 epidemic delayed the planned 2021 completion.
Ms. Kawesa added that one wing of the Kingdom Kampala building would accommodate 323 of the 529 MPs in the 11th parliament.
The remaining 206 MPs will continue to occupy parliament’s central building, Queens’ chambers and Development House. The central building can accommodate over 100 MPs, including the offices of the committee chairpersons and their vice, the Speaker and Deputy. It also houses 20 departments of parliament.
“We will have adequate space for all MPs. They have been sharing offices, and each MP can now have their own space,” says Ms. Kawesa.
According to Ms. Kawesa, Sudhir’s Kingdom Kampala building was the best-evaluated bidder during the competitive exercise. The furniture procurement process is now underway. Once fully furnished, the MPs will move in this June.
The Independent reported that parliament recently approved 13 billion Uganda Shillings in its financial year 2021/2022. The funds are for renting office space at the Kingdom Kampala building. USh 9 billion will be for the current financial year, while the remaining Shs. 4 billion may pay rent for other premises or pay rent in 2022/2023.
Sudhir’s Kingdom Kampala office is along Nile Avenue, 400 meters from the Parliamentary building. The monthly rent of 800 million shillings at Sudhir’s Kingdom Kampala building equates to 9 billion shillings per year and 18 billion shillings for the next two years. The estimated completion date for the new Parliamentary chambers, The Independent reports.
READ MORE LIKE THIS: