Govt body opens posh city office with gym and sauna

Kampala

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) could soon be the best place for parents to work following the decision by the government authority to set up a sauna, steam bath, gymnasium and day-care centre for its employees.

The facilities which are synonymous top hotels and swanky homes, are the new home of UCC, which regulates telecommunications companies. The six-storeyed office complex is located near the defunct Apparel Tristar tower in Bugolobi, near the city. It cost UCC Shs7.5 billion, almost three quarters of which was funded by a loan from Stanbic Bank Uganda.
At the opening ceremony of the ultra-modern building that will be the envy of many corporations, Mr Patrick Masambu, the executive director of UCC said the health, and sports facilities have been provided in the building in recognition of the need for a life-work balance to ensure efficiency of the commission staff. UCC employs 80 workers majority of whom are youthful, and plans to recruit more.

Great relief
Ms Justin Barungi Kizito, a mother and worker at UCC, said the day care centre will be a great relief to breastfeeding mothers. “This is a good initiative because it allows mothers to breastfeed their babies exclusively for the first six months,” Ms Barungi said in an interview.

Mr Joseph Kizito, the consumer affairs specialist at UCC said: “I am very grateful for the facilities because I have a young family and I want to be with my children–the day care works for me too.” He added: “When you have a gym in the vicinity, you take a lunch break and go work out, and get back to the job.” The centre will be fully equipped by January, officials said.