UPDF to get better housing

By Patrick Jaramogi

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel housing problems will be history following an initiative to construct affordable houses for them.

Gen. Katumba Wamala, the Commander of Land Forces, said last week that plans were underway to phase out “mama ingia pole” traditional 'uniport' that is synonymous with the UPDF and other security personnel.

“We have observed that with the hydrautec blocks, we can easily construct houses for our officers who are sleeping in mama ingia pole. The President has instructed that we purchase hydrautec machines to implement this project,” said Wamala.

He said he would follow up on the presidential directive to find resources to purchase the 100 hydrautec machines.

“President Museveni was impressed with the housing for the elderly that he launched in Mukono recently and directed that we reciprocate.

I will follow it up with the UPDF leadership to have this directive implemented,” he said.

Wamala said the pilot project for the elderly that was commissioned by the President at Buzirandulu village in Nabbale sub-county in Mukono district would be implemented by Hydra Homes Uganda.

“The machines cost about $30,000 (about sh72m), which is not much money. If we can purchase 100 machines and construct 30,000 houses for our officers, then accommodation issues will be sorted out.

We shall work with Hydra Homes to see how best to move ahead with this project,” said Wamala.

He said he would also task the Mukono district leadership to ensure that they purchase the machines to roll out the houses for the elderly project that was commissioned in Mukono.

Siperanta Nakubulwa was the first beneficiary of a two bedroom house constructed using hydrautec blocks.

Under the scheme initiated by Mukono district and spearheaded by Gen. Katumba Wamala, the elderly are supported to live in affordable clean homes constructed using hydrautec blocks.

The hydrautec machines manufactured from Turkey can churn out 4,000 blocks daily.

“If one machine can make 4,000 blocks in a day, that means we can make 12,000 blocks in three days, enough to construct a three- bedroomed house,” said Gen. Wamala.

Harrison Busingye, the Hydra Homes managing director, explained that the implementation of the project was achievable.