Amama Mbabazi wants house for every soldier
Jun 08, 2006
THE defence ministry has awarded a US$38m contract to a Chinese company to build 18 army barracks in the country, the Minister of Security, Amama Mbabazi, said yesterday.
By Emmy Allio in Bombo
THE defence ministry has awarded a US$38m contract to a Chinese company to build 18 army barracks in the country, the Minister of Security, Amama Mbabazi, said yesterday.
Metallion Associated Construction Ltd., which won the tender out of 16 firms, is best known for the construction and expansion of the army headquarters in Bombo at US$15m, which was a loan from the Chinese government.
Mbabazi, who was handing over office in Bombo to his successor, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, listed the construction of barracks as one of his achievements.
“All soldiers will soon reside in barracks and have homes where their families live decently as they go out on national duties,†he said.
Present was the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Nyakairima Aronda and his deputy Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta, land forces commander Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala and air force chief Maj. Gen. Jim Owoyesingyire. The defence permanent secretary Brig. Noble Mayombo and the Chief of General Staff, Maj. Gen. Robert Rusoke, also attended.
Mbabazi listed the completed barracks as Kakiri, Kabamba, Karamba, Kigingo, Katabi, Kimaka college, Entebbe airbase and Hima. Those near completion are Kasenyi, Butiaba, Acholi-Pii, Nakasongola, Bundibugyo, Jinja and Makindye. The army also built Pajimu and Loro health centres in northern Uganda.
He said the defence ministry also reached an agreement with the National Social Security Fund, under which the ministry will give the pension’s body its land on lower Mbuya hill in exchange for building the defence ministry headquarters on upper Mbuya hill.
The army hospital on lower Mbuya hill is to be shifted and upgraded to a first-class referral hospital at US$3m. Bombo and Nakasongola barracks are to be upgraded at sh20b as the headquarters of the land forces and air force respectively.
Mbabazi also explained that sh5,000 which used to be added onto soldiers’ salaries had been diverted to build barracks.
About the headquarters of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) in Kampala, Mbabazi refuted reports that it was allocated to a private investor. “I will join Hon. Kiyonga in struggling against that allocation.†He said CMI needed a more decent place before vacating its premises.
He said in the last five years, 3,300 LRA rebels were killed, 980 captured, 8,000 abducted children rescued and 1,200 rebels integrated into the UPDF.
THE defence ministry has awarded a US$38m contract to a Chinese company to build 18 army barracks in the country, the Minister of Security, Amama Mbabazi, said yesterday.
Metallion Associated Construction Ltd., which won the tender out of 16 firms, is best known for the construction and expansion of the army headquarters in Bombo at US$15m, which was a loan from the Chinese government.
Mbabazi, who was handing over office in Bombo to his successor, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, listed the construction of barracks as one of his achievements.
“All soldiers will soon reside in barracks and have homes where their families live decently as they go out on national duties,†he said.
Present was the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Nyakairima Aronda and his deputy Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta, land forces commander Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala and air force chief Maj. Gen. Jim Owoyesingyire. The defence permanent secretary Brig. Noble Mayombo and the Chief of General Staff, Maj. Gen. Robert Rusoke, also attended.
Mbabazi listed the completed barracks as Kakiri, Kabamba, Karamba, Kigingo, Katabi, Kimaka college, Entebbe airbase and Hima. Those near completion are Kasenyi, Butiaba, Acholi-Pii, Nakasongola, Bundibugyo, Jinja and Makindye. The army also built Pajimu and Loro health centres in northern Uganda.
He said the defence ministry also reached an agreement with the National Social Security Fund, under which the ministry will give the pension’s body its land on lower Mbuya hill in exchange for building the defence ministry headquarters on upper Mbuya hill.
The army hospital on lower Mbuya hill is to be shifted and upgraded to a first-class referral hospital at US$3m. Bombo and Nakasongola barracks are to be upgraded at sh20b as the headquarters of the land forces and air force respectively.
Mbabazi also explained that sh5,000 which used to be added onto soldiers’ salaries had been diverted to build barracks.
About the headquarters of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) in Kampala, Mbabazi refuted reports that it was allocated to a private investor. “I will join Hon. Kiyonga in struggling against that allocation.†He said CMI needed a more decent place before vacating its premises.
He said in the last five years, 3,300 LRA rebels were killed, 980 captured, 8,000 abducted children rescued and 1,200 rebels integrated into the UPDF.