Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo has appealed to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for a Shs6 billion (approximately Ksh208 million) supplementary budget to restore the Uganda House in Nairobi, Kenya, which suffered significant damage during anti-tax protests in June.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
The proposed funds, approximately Ksh208 million at the current exchange rate, are intended to repair the six-storey building located on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi’s central business district.
This comes amid a strained relationship between Kenya and Uganda exacerbated by the arrest of 36 Ugandans by security forces on the outskirts of Kisumu City and smuggling back to the country.
Addressing the committee, Gen Odongo emphasised the urgency of the request. “I urge this honourable committee to approve the supplementary budget to restore Uganda House,” he stated.
He added, “Restoring the building is crucial not only for providing adequate office space but also for boosting our Non-Tax Revenue (NTR). We project that once fully operational, the building will generate Shs4 billion (about Ksh138.67 million) in NTR.”
Popular city lawyer Danstan Omari claimed that 37 attorneys including himself were forced to jump from the fourth floor of Uganda House, a business complex located in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) after a fire broke out in the premises.
The Foreign Affairs Minister presented an update on the building’s condition following the fire incident on June 25, which caused extensive damage. Originally scheduled for completion by June 28, the renovation was being carried out by Ambitious Construction Company when the attack occurred.
The renovation, which was covered by insurance, had been underway before the fire, but no detailed insurance report was available to the MPs. The Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiire, confirmed that although insurance had been secured, a comprehensive report from the insurer may take up to two years to finalise.
“The extent of the damage has been assessed at Shs6 billion, but we need time to verify whether the insurance policy covers the fire incident,” Bagiire explained.
The situation has stirred controversy among lawmakers. Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Muwada Nkunyingi has called for a detailed report on the fire. “We need to ensure that all facts are in place before making any decisions on this significant financial request,” Nkunyingi stated. “A verbal update is insufficient when formal investigations are still underway.”
Committee Chairperson Catherine Lamwaka echoed these concerns, ruling out any immediate discussions on the budget request. The committee has decided to conduct an on-site inspection of the Nairobi facility and review all related documents, including insurance and construction contracts.
The committee has instructed ministry officials to submit all relevant documents by the end of the day. These documents will be scrutinised to ensure that the financial request is justified and that proper procedures have been followed...CONTINUE READING>>
