The State Minister for Luwero Triangle, Alice Kaboyo, has officially launched the final phase of construction works for the Luwero District Headquarters, marking a major milestone in a project that has spanned nearly a decade.
The construction of the district headquarters was first launched in the 2016/17 financial year by the then LC5 Chairperson, Ronald Ndawula, as part of efforts to improve the working environment for civil servants who were operating from cramped, classroom-like structures and sharing offices due to limited space.
Ndawula embarked on the ambitious project with only Shs 163 million raised from local revenue. Despite the modest funding, the initiative laid the foundation for what would later become a flagship administrative infrastructure project for the district.
Following Ndawula’s exit from office in 2021, the incumbent LC5 Chairperson, Erastus Kibirango, together with the district council, continued to allocate funds for the project in phases.
By the 2022/23 financial year, the council had injected Shs 2.08 billion into the construction. However, the total cost required to complete the four-storeyed building stood at Shs 6.8 billion, leaving a significant funding gap.
In response, Kibirango launched a fundraising campaign dubbed “Luwero Yange”, arguing that local revenue alone was insufficient and that relying solely on it would delay completion by nearly a decade. The campaign, however, attracted mixed reactions.
While some residents questioned the feasibility of raising such funds locally, others called on the central government to take over the project in recognition of Luwero’s historical contribution to the 1981–1986 National Resistance Army war that brought President Yoweri Museveni to power.
Minister Kaboyo, who was invited as the Chief Guest at the fundraiser, directed that the campaign be withdrawn. She instead pledged to engage the Ministries of Finance and Local Government to secure government funding for the project, committing to ensure its completion under central government support.
On Friday, Kaboyo officially launched the final phase of construction works after successfully securing funding from the central government. To date, the government has released Shs 3 billion out of the Shs 6.8 billion required to complete the project.
“I want to thank the former and current district leaders who have worked hard to ensure that this project reaches this stage. I now want to inform you that the government has taken over the final phase to ensure its completion,” Kaboyo said.
She added that once completed, the new headquarters will provide district staff with conducive and well-equipped offices, enabling more efficient execution of government work.
The district has since contracted the National Enterprises Corporation (NEC) to undertake the completion works, which are expected to be finalized within 18 months.
Kaboyo also commended LC5 Chairperson Kibirango for his cooperation with the central government and for prioritizing security at the site. Following the government’s pledge to take over the project, Kibirango and the district council allocated Shs 300 million for the construction of a perimeter wall fence.
“After both the wall fence and the district offices are completed, the area will look good and security will be enhanced,” Kaboyo noted.
Former LC5 Chairperson Ronald Ndawula welcomed the government’s commitment, describing it as proof that visionary leadership can yield results even when initial resources are limited.
“When I started this project, several councillors doubted that we would ever finish it because of limited funds. I pushed on, and years after leaving office, the project is nearing completion. As leaders, we must dream big and be visionary if our communities are to benefit,” Ndawula said.
Upon completion, the National Enterprises Corporation will hand over a fully functional facility equipped with electricity, surveillance cameras, telecommunications infrastructure, and furniture, among other installations.
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