Kampala
25/10/07

MULTI - MILLION DOLLAR RENOVATION OF STATE HOUSE AT ENTEBBE FOR CHOGM SUMMIT IS COMPLETED IN TIME.

By Leo Odera Omolo
 
The construction of the renovated parts of the State House, Entebbe has been completed in time in readiness for the Commonwealth Summit (CHOGM) next month.
 
The multi-billion dollar project, carried out by a Chinese Construction Company will be commissioned on November 10, 2007.
 
‘’The contractors are expected to hand over the now ultra-modern building to the government of Uganda at the end of this month. It is hoped that by October 31, all the work will have been completed, said the project Manager Henry Kazabaura.
 
Mr. Kazabaura was talking to a group of Parliamentary select committee on CHOGM.
 
Renovation of State House kicked off in 2004 and has cost the government of Uganda over USD 54 million.
 
On Tuesday this week Mr. Kazabaura led MPs on an extensive inspection tour of the project which lasted for four hours. The Uganda legislators visited the magnificent building, which has a beautiful view of the Entebbe International Airport and Lake Victoria.
 
The facility has a ceremonial Hall, the President’s office in the left wing and a residential wing on the right.
 
The main reception hall has a capacity of 500 guests. There is a main lounge, a banquet hall, where the Queen Elizabeth of England is expected to hold a ceremony on her capacity as the head of the Commonwealth, and a big kitchen, which will provide five star hotel services to the hundreds of foreign dignitaries expected to attend the CHOGM Summit.
 
The left wing contains offices for Presidential advisors, secretaries, a cabinet library, a cabinet meeting hall, a press room and the President’s study room.
 
Residential wing has a health centre with sauna, massage and steam-bath facilities, an operating theatre and five Presidential suites. The balcony of the master bedroom overlooks the green forests on the shores of Lake Victoria.
 
The building is surrounded by beautiful flower gardens, two fish ponds, a public parking yard, a communications house for drivers, a screening house, a fountain and a gazebo.
 
A Kabarole women MP Margaret Muhanga was today quoted by the government owned Daily Vision as saying, ‘’this is magnificent house and really befits a head of State.
 
Meanwhile the government of Uganda has released Ushs 400 million for the renovation of tourist sites ahead of the Commonwealth Summit (CHOGM) next month.
 
Sam Nahanya, the Permanent Secretary in the Tourism Ministry has disclosed that Namugongo Martys Shrine, the Kisubi Tombs, the National Theatre and the Uganda Museum, the source of the Nile in Jinja and the Wildlife Education Centre in Entebbe had been identified and earmarked for CHOGM’s delegates tours, and were
 
Briefing journalists at the Foreign Affairs Ministry PS Nahanya said a culture village was being constructed near the National Theatre to enable cultural groups’ exhibit their crafts.\
 
Prince Charles of England he said was expected to visit the north to assess projects funded by the British government, the Queen Elizabeth National Park and the source of the Nile at Jinja.
 
Dr. Nahanya said bird watching and mountaineering would also be arranged for the CHOGM delegates.
 
He said the preparation for the accommodation of the delegates was sufficient. 1,035 foreign journalists had been accredited as of October 17th and another 1,000 were pending vetting and approval.another MP Louise Opange (Pallisa) was quoted by the same paper as saying, ‘’this is why Presidents would rather die in the State House.
 
After the tour, committee chairperson Onyango Kakoba said the MPs were impressed with the progress of the work. The new building replaces the old State House, which existed from the colonial period up to the time the NRM took power.
 
It has become dilapidated and the President has since then shifted to State Lodge Nakasero, paving way for the renovations and CHOGM proceedings would be broadcast live to the world from the conference hall.
 
Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com .