NATIONWIDE Properties has began the next phase of construction of a $150m (about sh3240b) Royal Palms estate project, writes James Odomel.

Construction of Phase 1B kicked off last month and is expected to be completed by June next year. About 50 units are expected to be constructed with prices ranging from $175,000 (sh378m) to $225,000 (sh486m). All units will be detached (stand alone), a company official said.

The project is a joint venture between Property Services (PSL), one of Uganda’s established property management and development companies, and Mukwano Industries.

The two firms are developing a residential estate on 150 acres of prime land at Butabika Hill, 9km from Kampala city, overlooking Lake Victoria.

It will be a properly-planned, modern, eco-friendly and well-managed estate with a safe road network, modern hospital, social and commercial centre, parks, a wetland reserve and other social and leisure facilities.

The project will also have a commercial centre, leisure parks and a 200-bed hospital. It will have about 1,300 housing units of various sizes from one to five-bed roomed apartments.