Suspects under probe by the Inspectorate of Government (IG) will no longer be detained at Police stations once the construction of its multibillion headquarters is completed.
The Inspector-General of Government (IGG), Justice Irene Mulyagonja, revealed that the planned sh70b complex will contain independent cells and interrogation rooms. Mulyagonja made the revelation yesterday during the breaking of the ground ceremony for the construction of the IG Tower in Nakasero, Kampala.
The Auditor-General, John Muwanga, State House anti-corruption unit boss Lt Col Edith Nakalema and heads of various civil society organizations were in attendance.
“The construction of the IG office is timely and responds to the demand at hand. The building will also contain cells for suspects. We shall no longer have to take them to Police upon arrest,” Mulyagonja said.
Ali Munira, the IG’s publicist, said they will take the necessary procedures to have their cells gazetted once construction is completed. The construction of the IG offices, which commenced yesterday, is expected to be completed within 36 months.
The project is being funded by the Government. ROKO Construction Co. Limited will work closely with Symbion Uganda Limited, an architectural firm charged with the supervision of the project. The building will sit on 1.2 acres. It will have 15 floors, three of which will be parking spaces.
Mulyagonja said the construction of the IG office will save the Government sh2.5b that is spent on rent annually. She said the journey for the construction of the IG offices started in 2005 when they realized the need to have their own premises to combat the increased demand for office space.
“The IG has expanded over the years, with the number of staff growing from 50 in 1995 to 500 today,” Mulyagonja said.
The finance minister, Matia Kasaija, elucidated the need for urgent amendment of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) Act, noting that it causes unnecessary delay of Government projects.
“I am saddened today that we are just making ground-breaking for the construction of the tower yet we would be launching it by now,” he said.
“This land belonged to the Post Office, a government entity, just like the IG. Why should there be a struggle for a procurement process? We should have simply allocated the land to IG. Give me six months, we are going to remove it.”
