Minister launches sh5b infrastructure project

INFRASTRUCTURE

Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo has launched sh5b infrastructure development project with calling on army leadership to ensure that the project funds are utilised properly.

"We decided to give the funds under UPDF engineering brigade because we believe and they have carried several projects that have shown their capabilities in infrastructure constructions.

We want to see that good completion work is achieved here at the NALI centre," Mbayo said Wednesday, during the launch of a sh5b infrastructure project at National leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.

The project is located about 200 kilometers from Kampala. NALI  institute has a long history of providing ideological direction to Uganda in order to enable them to regain their power, freedom and independence as provided in article 1 of Uganda`s 1995 constitution.

Mbayo said she is pleased to see that the project has kicked off following a delay of over six years. "I have been reminding the President about this project for very longtime. Whenever I would meet him I would remind him about this project till we finally got the funds for the project take off," she said.

She particularly praised president Museveni, ministry of defence officials and army leadership for being at  the fore-front of ensuring that NALI centre gets better infrastructure. Mbayo said that she has been bashed by MPS on several occasion for fighting for better facilities at the centre, but she couldn't bow down.

"I have been mistaken to be soft and humble by many people, but I always know what I want and where to get it from. That's why I am humbled that this project has taken off when I am still occupying the same office," she said.

Mbayo said NALI should be upgraded to national standards so that leaders across Africa could come and learn more about leadership skills.

She, however, said that NALI is a centre that trains everyone in the country on leadership skills without looking at their political inclinations.

"I have heard some politicians saying that NALI caters for only NRM group people. That is not true everyone is welcome here to acquire skills in leadership including you journalists," she said.

NALI director, Brig. Gen. David Kasura said that the centre inspires to be   national and international center of excellence that develops leaders who are knowledgeable, visionary and are fully committed to the economic transformation of the country.

"One of our missions is to facilitate the development of the qualitative leader who can stimulate and drive Uganda's rapid economic transformation" he said. Brig. Kasura said that the project plan to expand the centre infrastructure was mooted 11 years after realizing the need to make the place suit international standards.

"We have been pursuing this project for awhile with the minister for presidency, every financial year we also got promised, but due to inadequate funds it would not take off.

But finally we are glad that some funds to start the project have already been disbursed," he said. Brig. Gen. Kasura hailed President Museveni who is also commander in chief, for accepting the proposal to expand the centre to international level, where people across the globe would come and acquire leadership skills.   

He also commended former NRA commanders, like Gen. Salim Saleh, Brig. Pecos Kutesa among others who have played a big role in ensuring that the centre imparts skills to political and military leaders in the country.

Lt. Col. Eng. Godfrey Tukamwakira project engineer, said that construction project will take  12 months.

He said that UPDF engineering brigade won the tender to construct the infrastructure that will include a dining hall, dormitory, library and administration block.