Electoral Commission hands over former offices to UNRA

The Electoral Commission (EC) has handed over its former Jinja-road-based premises to the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to commence the ongoing construction of the Kampala Flyover.

UNRA is set to demolish the facilities on the land to pave way for the ongoing development of the Kampala Flyover Construction and Road Upgrading Project.

During the handover, the Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama expressed mixed feelings saying this is one of the enormous memories going to be trashed but also a relief of the bad working environment with dilapidated infrastructure.

“It is not easy to leave a place you have known as home for many decades, so many memories that cannot be easily washed away, but we have to accept change especially if it is for the better,” he said. 

In 2019, UNRA commenced the construction of the famous Kampala Flyover with the intention of mitigating traffic congestion in the city.

In a period of four years, the construction works for lot one are still ongoing. The EC has handed over its former premises to occasion the commencement of lot 2 of the construction of the Kampala Flyover. 

“This development is a double-edged sword. Much as we feel relieved of the bad working environment such as buildings, they were dilapidated beyond repair, and the institution’s memories are set to be lost,” he said. 

On the other hand, UNRA is happy to take over this property to effect the commencement of the construction of the Kampala Flyover.

Eng Lawrence Pario, the contract manager of the Kampala Flyover hints at the fact that the delayed handover of this plot, had created a blockage on the whole. 

“The construction works of lot 2 will last at least 4 years and as such numerous changes await, motorists along Kampala Jinja highway may not be affected as of yet,” 

The Electoral Commission will in the meantime reside at Plot7 industrial area as construction for its permanent home in Lubowa, Wakiso district.