Buganda Royal Palace To Have Face Lift

Posted by: lukwago J in Uganda news September 23, 2020

to Kabaka Ronald Mutebi has approved a grand redevelopment of Buganda Royal Palace which has been subdivided into four new plots.

The Second Deputy Katikkiro and Minister of Investments, Planning and Economic Development of Buganda Kingdom, Waggwa Nsibirwa, revealed that everything is on course.

“His majesty is pleased that the Lubiri should be redeveloped and the Katikkiro went into consultations. The first product of these consultations agreed on the land use and what can be done in Lubiri. However, the Kabaka directed that we should not lose sight of our cultural heritage as we implement the transformation,” Nsibirwa said.

However, in the new arrangement, Kabaka’s current official house, Twekobe, will be occupied by a museum.

The Contractors;

A surveying firm, RTK Surveys Ltd, has completed drawing the topographic aspects of the 216-acre land that is encircled by the Ring Road and a conclusive report on land use. The administration at Mengo approved the report, according to Mr. Nsibirwa.

The kingdom paid RTK surveys Shs40 million for the job. Among the things in the topographic report are boundary demarcations, site elevations, and water movements.

According to official documents, three other firms have also signed agreements with the kingdom. Therefore, they will bag Shs400 million to draw the master plan. This will be within a deadline of 12 months, starting this month. The firms include Arc Forum represented by Robert Kiggundu, Gepoka Associates Ltd represented by Edward Kayiso Golooba (head of surveyors in Uganda) and Design Forum represented by Lugemwa Lugalambi.

Reliable officials from the Kabakas office noted that the three firms presented their papers separately. Sources however said they agreed and made a singular proposal that they are already implementing as a joint group.

Meanwhile Baganda officials are also looking for investors who can make a housing project in Buswa, Wakiso District, and those that can lease land to undertake agriculture.

Buganda constitutes 25 percent of the Ugandan population with approximately 10 million people.

Background;

The Kabaka made a directive to revamp the palace and make better use of the prime land within the city suburb of Mengo to suit the modern standards.

The kingdom dropped earlier proposed controversial plans for the construction of an airfield and shopping malls.

Mengo then selected a seven-man committee chaired by Mr. Francis Kamulegeya, the country director of PriceWater- HouseCoopers. This has now zeroed in on four projects. The new set up will have a multipurpose modern palace on (70 acres); a specialized teaching hospital (60 acres). Schools that will include a kindergarten, primary and high school (25 acres). As well as a Buganda cultural village that will comprise an exhibition center, cottage industries, ceremonial grounds, a model of Kiganda homestead and a garden (61 acres).

Museum;

They will convert the old palace into a museum in the new arrangement. However, it will mainly showcase Buganda’s heritage, historical aspects, and participation in national politics, among other things, according to Mr. Kamulegeya.

They will construct the new palace with five-star facilities. These will include banquets, conference rooms, and lodging rooms for Kabaka’s top visitors, among others.

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