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Shs16b tourism hotel nears completion
Almost done. The current state of the Shs16 billion three-star hotel at the Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute in Jinja District. PHOTO BY PHILIP WAFULA
What you need to know:
- Remaining. The project coordinator, Dr John-Marie Kyewalabye, says they are only left with fitting and furnishing.
The construction of a Shs16b three-star hotel at Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (UHTTI) in Jinja District is near completion, with works reportedly at 80 per cent.
On April 10, 2018, the then Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, led a team of government officials and other partners on a ground-breaking ceremony to kick-start construction of the hotel, which was supposed to be completed within 12 months.
Since UHTTI is the only government institution, which specialises in hotel and hospitality, government deemed it prudent to develop the facility to improve quality of staff.
The total cost of the project is about Shs382 billion for the five components including land administration and management reform, business registration and licensing reform, tourism competitive development, match grant facility and project implementation.
The project is co-funded by the World Bank to the tune of $100m (Shs373b) and government $2.5m (Shs9b).
The construction is being undertaken by Roko Construction Limited, supervised by Arch Design Limited, whereas Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) is the borrower’s representative.
The CEDP project coordinator, Dr John-Marie Kyewalabye, said: “Works currently stand at 80 per cent and so far everything is on track. The fittings are already being installed while the furnishings were imported and are already in the country,” he said on Tuesday.
When this reporter visited the facility yesterday, all construction had progressed compared to an assessment that was made on May 22.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said completion delayed due to several factors, including the torrential rains, but it will be completed this month.
Earlier, Dr Kyewalabye said the facility was behind schedule because of the two months they lost before the actual works commenced.
“When a contractor gets to a site, there are things he must comply with which are mandatory such as environmental social safeguards, which are sanctioned by the National Environment Management Authority.
“Also, the contractor has to mobilise people and equipment; all this is part of what happens in the cycle. Then, some redesigns were undertaken, which needed time to be approved and there was need to undertake a review of boundaries for the hotel land,” he said.
Dr Kyewalabye said they are not merely delivering a building, but also furnishings with cutlery.
Ms Miriam Namutosi, the principal of UHTTI, in an earlier interview, said the delay had affected their operations because their intakes are planned in such a way that by the time students report, they should find the training kitchens and training restaurants in place.
