Businessman builds prison in exchange for city land
A businessman has built a sh1.3b prison in Nakasongola in exchange for Uganda Prisons’ prime city plot in Nakivubo.
By Emmy Allio
A businessman has built a sh1.3b prison in Nakasongola in exchange for Uganda Prisons’ prime city plot in Nakivubo.
The Nakasongola prison, built according to a borrowed design from Canada, will have four wards and accommodate 600 inmates. It has recreational centres like a football pitch, dispensary and other social amenities.
In exchange, Namayiba Tea Estates Limited is taking over the former prisons remand home on Plot 33 Nakivubo Road in Kampala. Since 1963, prisons have been using the home as a store.
“When Kampala became more congested, structures which were a remand prison changed use. It became dangerous to keep prisoners there. As urbanisation intensified, investors also started to eye the land,†the deputy commissioner general of Uganda Prisons, James Mwanje, said.
He said, “We are happy with the deal because our land on Nakivubo Road is worth about sh.1b, but we have got a modern prison worth over sh.1.3b.â€
Mwanje said they borrowed the design of the prison from the Canadian concept of “Open Prison Model.â€
Namayiba are expected to hand over the prison at the end of January 2007.
He said the Solicitor-General and the Government valuer have full knowledge of the deal.
“We showed the investor land in Nakasongola town council near the Grade One Magistrate’s court. It is behind the office of the RDC. There is enough security,†Mwanje said.
He said the Uganda Human Rights Commission report 2005 had listed the Nakasongola prison as one of the worst in the country. It had grass-thatched staff quarters and the main prison building was dilapidated.
Recently, the Lands, Housing and Urban development, minister, Omara Atubo, said exchanging prime pieces of state-owned land for better built structures elsewhere is being encouraged because it is faster and cheaper to relocate.
A businessman has built a sh1.3b prison in Nakasongola in exchange for Uganda Prisons’ prime city plot in Nakivubo.
The Nakasongola prison, built according to a borrowed design from Canada, will have four wards and accommodate 600 inmates. It has recreational centres like a football pitch, dispensary and other social amenities.
In exchange, Namayiba Tea Estates Limited is taking over the former prisons remand home on Plot 33 Nakivubo Road in Kampala. Since 1963, prisons have been using the home as a store.
“When Kampala became more congested, structures which were a remand prison changed use. It became dangerous to keep prisoners there. As urbanisation intensified, investors also started to eye the land,†the deputy commissioner general of Uganda Prisons, James Mwanje, said.
He said, “We are happy with the deal because our land on Nakivubo Road is worth about sh.1b, but we have got a modern prison worth over sh.1.3b.â€
Mwanje said they borrowed the design of the prison from the Canadian concept of “Open Prison Model.â€
Namayiba are expected to hand over the prison at the end of January 2007.
He said the Solicitor-General and the Government valuer have full knowledge of the deal.
“We showed the investor land in Nakasongola town council near the Grade One Magistrate’s court. It is behind the office of the RDC. There is enough security,†Mwanje said.
He said the Uganda Human Rights Commission report 2005 had listed the Nakasongola prison as one of the worst in the country. It had grass-thatched staff quarters and the main prison building was dilapidated.
Recently, the Lands, Housing and Urban development, minister, Omara Atubo, said exchanging prime pieces of state-owned land for better built structures elsewhere is being encouraged because it is faster and cheaper to relocate.