Museveni allows replacement of Luzira Prison with five-star hotel
Museveni Orders Otafiire To Relocate Luzira Prison As Investor Wants To Construct A Five Star Hotel
Feb 24, 2024
Luzira prison is a maximum security prison for both men and women in Uganda .As at July 2016, it is the only maximum security prison in the country and houses Uganda's death row inmates.
The country's historical prison is now at stake since there is an Investor who has expressed interest in relocating and constructing a Uganda International Conference Center and Commercial Hub.
ccording to the letter directed to the Minister of Internal Affairs Gen. Kahinda Otafiire by President Museveni of which Spy reports has got a copy, Tian Tang Group company approached the President and proposed to him have the prision Re-located and the area be replaced by A Five-star Hotel with a Conference Center and relocate the Prison at their own cost.
The prison is in the Luzira neighborhood in Nakawa Division in southeastern Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. The prison is approximately 10 kilometers (6 mi) south-east of the city's central business district.
In Luzira, inmates are assigned more responsibility than would be in similar prisons in the United Kingdom or the United States.
Inmates assume responsibility for the maintenance of harmony and functionality of the units where they live, including the growing and harvesting of food, its preparation, and its distribution within the prison. Learning is encouraged, with many men learning and teaching carpentry skills to others.
Ugandan government to replace Luzira Prison with five-star hotel
Frank Baine, the Prisons spokesperson
Prisons confirms relocation of Luzira in the offing
https://nilepost.co.ug/news/189755/uganda-prisons-speaks-out-on-relocation-of-luzira
The Uganda Prisons Service has broken its silence about ongoing plans to relocate Luzira Maximum Prison and replace it with a five star hotel.
Commenting about the matter on Monday, Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine said the matter is currently at ministerial level where discussions are still ongoing.
In a July, 2022 letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs, President Museveni gave a green light to the idea of giving land currently housing Luzira Prison to a Chinese investor of Tian Tang Group to construct a five star hotel and relocate the maximum security prison to another area.
“I support this idea,” Museveni said.
He therefore directed Otafiire to kickstart negotiations with the Tian Tang to execute the plan.
In a follow up letter dated February, 22, 2024, Minister Otafiire sought a consultative meeting on March 6 on the matter.
“The Uganda Prisons Service have identified 3.5 square miles in Buikwe District, out of which they have agreed to purchase 1 square mile for the said relocation,” Otafiire said in the letter.
“The family of the Late Antonio Lutwama Kabogoza who owned the land have unfortunately never applied for letters of administration since the late passed on in 1928 although they have agreed as a family and beneficiaries to sell the said square mile to the Uganda Prison. In light of the current legal impasse on processing letters of administration for the old Buganda estates, the family lawyers have formed an opinion that they (Beneficiaries) can still sale their interest in the said land to the Uganda Prisons Service for the Prisons relocation,” Otafiire said.
Speaking on Monday, the Uganda Prisons spokesperson, Frank Baine said where they are not allowed to comment on the matter now since it is still at a ministerial level, the matter of relocation of the prison constructed in 1927 has been on since 2013.
“To the best of my knowledge, the issue started in 2013 and it is a conversation which is still ongoing. Those who want information about the issue should contact the Attorney General, Minister of Internal Affairs or office of the president. For now, I don’t expect anybody to call me about this matter or to want to have an interview with me for clarification about this issue.”
