News
Govt allocates six more acres to UN centre in Entebbe
Established in 2010, the RSCE provides financial, human resource, administrative, logistics and information and communications technology (ICT) support to UN operations.
Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba. (File)
By: Umar Kashaka, Journalist @New Vision
_________________
Cabinet has approved the allocation of an additional six acres of government land to the United Nations Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE) to facilitate its expansion.
The land will be reallocated from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
“The centre has fully used the 20 acres it currently occupies. The additional land will give it room to expand as it takes on more responsibilities,” ICT and National Guidance Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba told a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday, October 27.
She was communicating decisions made by Cabinet at a meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni on Monday.
Established in 2010, the RSCE provides financial, human resource, administrative, logistics and information and communications technology (ICT) support to UN operations.
“These are the services that help UN missions carry out their work. The UN is reorganising its operations to reduce costs and make better use of its resources. Uganda has offered to host more of these services in Entebbe,” the minister said.
Established in 2010, the RSCE provides financial, human resource, administrative, logistics and information and communications technology (ICT) support to UN operations.
“These are the services that help UN missions carry out their work. The UN is reorganising its operations to reduce costs and make better use of its resources. Uganda has offered to host more of these services in Entebbe,” the minister said.
She noted that President Yoweri Museveni conveyed the offer to UN Secretary-General António Guterres in June 2025, and that Guterres welcomed it in his response of July 15, 2026.
“The centre has already taken over a range of administrative and support functions previously handled by the Kuwait Joint Support Office. That transfer took effect on July 1, 2026. For Uganda, this is an opportunity to strengthen our position as a host of international services and to support local businesses.”
Lumumba also said figures presented to Cabinet indicated that staff spending injects about $40m (approximately sh179b) into the local economy annually, while local contracts account for a further $33m (about sh134b).
“This spending supports businesses that provide goods and services to the centre and its staff. The centre is also expected to become the largest travel ticketing office in the UN system, handling an average of about 250 tickets a day.”
Lumumba said the additional land would support Uganda's partnership with the UN and create room for increased economic activity in Entebbe.
“The centre has already taken over a range of administrative and support functions previously handled by the Kuwait Joint Support Office. That transfer took effect on July 1, 2026. For Uganda, this is an opportunity to strengthen our position as a host of international services and to support local businesses.”
Lumumba also said figures presented to Cabinet indicated that staff spending injects about $40m (approximately sh179b) into the local economy annually, while local contracts account for a further $33m (about sh134b).
“This spending supports businesses that provide goods and services to the centre and its staff. The centre is also expected to become the largest travel ticketing office in the UN system, handling an average of about 250 tickets a day.”
Lumumba said the additional land would support Uganda's partnership with the UN and create room for increased economic activity in Entebbe.