KAMPALA– The Judiciary had set Friday 9th February 2024 (New Law Year ) as the date for commissioning of Magnificent, state of art of buildings (Twin Towers) the permanent home for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
Court of Appeal Building which is one of the Towers set to be Commissioned. (Photos by Judiciary)
The Chief guest was expected to be His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni , the President of Uganda.
However in a communication to the Judiciary , the President who was engaged sent his apologies through his Vice Rtd Major Jessica Alupo through whom he promised to commission the buildings on a new date which will be communicated in the shortest time possible.
In his speech to the gathering, the Chief Justice Alifonse Owiny Dollo emphasized that the President has not been able to officiate the grand opening of the twin Towers , but promised to invite back all stakeholders as soon as a new date is confirmed.
“The people of Uganda should know that the vigor and robust to ask for a home of appellate court was the brain child of Chief Justice Samuel Wako Wambuzi , he handled the mantle to Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki , who ensured that there is architectural design of the building. He handed over the mantle to Chief Justice Bart Katureebe Magunda who ensured that the treasury releases the funds required for the construction process and we broke the ground on 3rd December 2019 before retirement.”
Dollo added that his role when he assumed the office of the Chief Justice was to ensure that the structure stands and now its now the role of the public to judge whether has performed well his assignment.
On addressing the legal practitioners at the New Law Year event which was expected to double as the Twin Tower Commissioning ceremony, Mao commended the judiciary for having utilized time and resources through out the construction of the multi billion project.
“We are in the shadows of two new twin tower structures which the rumor has that it will be opened on a later date , giving us another excuse to come and have fun at your pleasure my Lord the Chief Justice.”
“These towers I understand have become a great source of embarrassment to other government agencies that have sites which have been covered with Ironsheets for years and years. Govt officials go and cut tape for ground breaking but nothing happens. Its like planting sterile seed.”
Mao added that having spent 105 billion shillings on these two buildings when fully furnished , it has put a lot of pressure to the rest of the government Ministries and Agencies.
The Twin towers will be saving the government of Uganda six billion shillings annually which the judiciary has been spending on renting court premises.
Supreme Court building awaiting commissioning.
At first the total cost for the construction work was 63.9 billion shillings for a period of three years , but another floor was added to accommodate a spacious Conference Hall and this led to raise to the funds to seven billion shillings.
The total cost plus installation of fire fighting equipments, Air conditioning , modern facilities and interior designing, these buildings will be completed at a total cost of 110 billion shillings.( Each building will cost 550 billion shillings)
Due to close supervision, the duration period reduced from the earlier estimate of four years to three years.
The buildings will have modern court halls, Chambers, Restaurant, Parking space for over 226 vehicles, Gymming facilities, Sauna, Steam bath and many other offices.
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