Government, partners set to construct 1,000 housing units in Entebbe

Government has signed a deal with National Housing Corporation, Water and Sanitation Africa and Exim Bank in Asia to construct 1,000 modern housing units in the long condemned Katabi and Manyango housing estates located in Division A, Entebbe Municipality.

Although National Housing Corporation says they will have a final figure of the total loan they will obtain after getting the best construction company, they estimate the construction of each housing unit to cost about Shs150 million.

The move would see Entebbe Municipal Council change from the old resolution of selling off the housing estates to modernising them to increase Entebbe Municipal Council revenue base to benefit Entebbe.

“We found a council resolution passed by the past leaders to sell off these housing estates sitting on 16.5 acres to an investor at Shs2.5billion. On consulting PPDA, we were advised to re-visit the decision because there was no value for money to sell 16.5 acres at Shs2.5billion and came up with an idea of partnering with private developers to re-construct the estates to meet modern demands and standards,” Entebbe Mayor Vincent Kayanja said.

New arrangement
He said they in the new arrangement, sitting tenants would get condominium title of the housing unit he/she is occupying and government will get rent from other apartments because the new master plan is to set up five-storey buildings per unit.

Mr David Wanangwe, the project development manager of National Housing Corporation, said they are still sourcing for a company that will construct between 600 to 640 housing units in Manyango and between 300 to 360 housing units in Katabi at affordable costs in order not to put the rate at higher costs to kick start the process by early next year.

The work is expected last for between 18 to 24 months.

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