Parliament elevators closed for 8 months

Jan 08, 2014

The elevators inside the Parliament building have been put out of service to give way for the construction of an additional floor on the building.

By Paul Kiwuuwa

KAMPALA - The elevators inside the Parliament building have been put out of service to give way for the construction of an additional floor on the building.

The lifts will remain unused for the next eight months, said Parliament’s Sergeant-at-arms, Ahmed Kagoye.

He told MPs to bear with the development until a sixth floor, intended to create more room for office accommodation, is built.

The closure of the lifts will be done in turns, he said, to pave way for “smooth” construction of the new level.

The Sergeant-at-arms explained that the reason for the closure of the elevators is that the continuous movement of lifts up and down interrupts major construction work inside the building.

The contracts committee of Parliament last September awarded the contract for construction and roofing of the three blocks on the east, south and west to Seyani Brothers and Co. Ltd.

The contract was approved by the solicitor general, and then signed by the parliamentary commission and the contract company.

Despite the shutdown of the elevators, there will be other options for movement inside the parliamentary building.

“MPs can use lifts on the northern block to reach the third floor of Parliament which has got a bridge that connects to the southern, eastern, and western blocks where construction work is going on,” said Kagoye.

Elevators leading to the eastern block are closed. However, those on the southern block have been left in operation for MPs, staff and visitors.

Construction started in November last year and is scheduled for completion in August.

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