Police give prime city land to Chinese firm
Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura (L) and Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhao Yali (2L) at the handing over of a three-block kindergarten constructed by the Chinese government at Naguru Police Barracks yesterday. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU
What you need to know:
Gen Kale Kayihura says more land is available to investors under the pubic-private partnership.
KAMPALA
The Uganda Police Force and a Chinese firm have agreed on a deal in which part of the Force’s land in Kibuli and the Fire Brigade Headquarters will be parcelled out to the latter to construct commercial structures.
The structures will be for the company’s use over three decades in exchange for the construction of a police academy in Masindi District and police houses in Kampala. The Chinese firm, Fangda International Company Limited, was procured through a non-competitive bidding process.
Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura said they are using a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Chinese firm at Kibuli and the Fire Brigade Directorate land. “If we attract more Chinese companies, they will help us strengthen our internal capacity…We have land in other areas, like Jinja, which can be redeveloped,” the IGP said.
Last year, Kibuli Police Training School was closed and courses it offered were taken to the Police Training School Kabalye in Masindi District and another police training school in Olilim in northern Uganda. It is not clear where the Fire Brigade will relocate to allow the development.
Gen Kayihura made the remarks yesterday at the handover of a three-block kindergarten constructed by the Chinese government at Naguru Police Barracks. The block, which was constructed by Chinese firm Tian Tang, was a donated by the Chinese government.
When contacted, director of Logistics and Engineering, Mr Godfrey Bangirana, confirmed that the project was in its advanced stage, but said his deputy had the details, who also referred us to the project manager, Mr Jim Mugunga.
Mr Mugunga said after the Chinese have used the structures for a period of time, they will give it to the police. The fire brigade and Kibuli plots were not part of the land which was tendered in the first PPP project. “The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority gave us a go-ahead to have limited procurement in which we got this Chinese firm and another company. The process to redevelop the land has started,” Mr Mugunga said.
During the handover of the kindergarten, Mr Zhao Yali, China’s ambassador, said when he first visited the police barracks, he was touched by the living conditions of police officers and their families.
“In the recent years, police have played a vital role in the establishment of peace. You deserve more,” Mr Yali said. He said he believes in the PPP project and he will ensure that more Chinese investors come to Uganda to invest in such mega projects.
