The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has unveiled plans to build a new office complex in Naguru, Kampala, that will accommodate 17 police directorates and a command center.
This strategic move aims to enhance the efficiency and manpower of the police force.
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Martins Okoth-Ochola, highlighted the long-standing challenge of accommodation faced by the UPF, both in terms of office and residential space.
He emphasized that the force, established in 1906, has never had a permanent police headquarters. Due to housing constraints, the police management had relocated the police headquarters to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) premises in 2011.
The new building is anticipated to provide a solution to these housing challenges.
The construction project is set to include a 12-story structure with a floor area of 14,934 square meters, a standalone conference center capable of hosting up to 500 people, and ample parking facilities.
The new complex will be six times larger than the current police headquarters and will allow all directorates to operate under one roof.
The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Robert Kasande, emphasized that this development will lead to substantial savings as institutions under the ministry have been spending significant sums on rent.
The project is expected to cost approximately Shs77 billion and will ultimately result in cost savings compared to ongoing rental expenses, which have amounted to over Shs30 billion annually.
