Artistic Impression of Luwero District headquarters that is under construction.
By Arnest Tumwesige
The UGX 9 billion Luwero District multi-complex headquarters currently under construction is expected to significantly improve the working environment for district officials while enhancing public access to services.
The existing administration block, commissioned in 1994, has over time become inadequate. In 2016, the district leadership resolved to construct a modern facility, citing the growing demand for office space and the need to optimize the shrinking available land.
Kasasa Francis Tebagalika, the Luwero District Civil Engineer in charge of buildings, said the project initially progressed in phases, funded through locally generated revenue ranging between UGX 100 million and UGX 200 million annually, supplemented by a government contribution of UGX 500 million per financial year.
However, in the 2023/2024 financial year, the central government, through the Ministry for the Luwero Triangle, assumed responsibility for funding the project. The construction was subsequently handed over to National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the commercial arm of the UPDF, which undertakes infrastructure projects.
“We are fortunate that about UGX 6.1 billion was allocated in the 2025/2026 financial year budget,” Eng. Kasasa told GLNA. NEC officially took over construction towards the end of 2025 following the signing of an agreement with the Luwero District Local Government.
The new block will have 95 spacious office rooms with some self-contained, excluding the council hall and council chambers.
Composition of the block
The multi-complex will comprise three main units: a main block with three floors, a lower block with two floors, and a council hall with chambers. By the time NEC assumed control, construction of the second floor slab had been completed, while work on the third floor is ongoing. Construction of the council hall and chambers is expected to commence in May.
With the government’s takeover, the district contributed an additional UGX 600 million, bringing the total funding under NEC to UGX 6.7 billion. Prior to this, approximately UGX 2.4 billion had already been spent, raising the total project cost to about UGX 9.1 billion. Full completion and handover is anticipated in January 2027.
Challenges with the Old Administration Block
The old structure, designed in a school-like layout, has been increasingly unsuitable for administrative functions. There has also been a problem of congestion, lack of privacy, and a deteriorating physical condition requiring frequent maintenance.
Office-sharing arrangements have often compromised confidentiality, while the building’s state has affected overall staff productivity and service delivery.
Improved Security and Infrastructure
The new complex will incorporate enhanced security features across approximately 4.5 acres, including a perimeter wall, CCTV surveillance systems, and solar-powered security lighting.
These improvements are expected to address past security concerns, including incidents of office break-ins registered mid 2024 that resulted in the loss of valuable equipment worth millions of shillings.
Nakaseke District Headquarters Development
In neighboring Nakaseke District, construction of a similar multi-complex headquarters is also underway, albeit in phases, funded through a combination of local revenue and central government support.
The first phase began in the 2021/2022 financial year with the construction of the health department block, funded by the Ministry of Health. This initial structure, which houses the District Health Officer and the Resident District Commissioner, laid the foundation for expanding into a full district headquarters complex.
Kagwa Robert, the District Planner, said the project is financed through the District Discretionary Development Equalization Grant (DDEG), transitional grants, and locally generated revenue.
The ground floor, currently under construction and expected to be completed within the current financial year, will accommodate approximately 21 offices. The first floor is scheduled for completion in the 2026/2027 financial year.
“We are nearly halfway through implementing the master plan, which is quite extensive. Initially, the total cost was estimated at UGX 6 billion. With additional funding, we plan to include the district council chambers,” Kagwa said.
Nakaseke District, which became operational in August 2005 after being carved out of Luwero, has long struggled with inadequate office space. Key departments including community services, planning, commercial services, and parts of the works department face persistent accommodation challenges.
The district currently spends about UGX 3.6 million annually on renting office space for the District Service Commission, underscoring the urgency of completing the new headquarters complex.
