Debate ignites in Parliament over turning Luzira prison space into five star hotel
The Luzira Prisons will be moved to make room for the construction of a five-star hotel, according to a formal motion that will be presented in Parliament.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, stated that Luzira prison, which was constructed in the 1920s, is experiencing a strain due to the increasing numbers of inmates and staff, which currently total 8,790 and 2,653, respectively.
At an estimated cost of Shs400 billion, Muhoozi proposed three different approaches to address the situation, starting with expanding and renovating the current Luzira facilities.
The alternative, he continued, is to move the prison at the government’s cost and keep the Luzira property and facilities for future uses.
The last resort, according to Minister Muhoozi, is to move Luzira Prisons to a new location, which is expected to cost Shs934 billion and allow for more efficient offender custody, rehabilitation, and reformation at the developer’s expense.
Members of Parliament, however, voiced their concerns about the minister’s suggestions.
Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA, Bugiri Municipality, Bugiri) expressed doubt, claiming that the Luzira Prisons’ relocation is just a front for land grabbing. He continued by saying that Tian Tang Group, the company proposing to build the hotel, is highly indebted and on a blacklist.
Elijah Okupa, the MP for Kasilo County, questioned the necessity of such a large area of land, asking why a hotel needed all 260 acres.
The NRM’s Pakwach District Woman Representative, Jane Avur, suggested a different site for the hotel.
She suggested Pakwach, her hometown, citing the presence of a large body of water there. “I am proposing that the five-star hotel must go to that area so that we take development out of Kampala” .
Jinja District Woman Mp, Loy Katali, voiced concerns about the free gifting of prime land. “Relocating the prisons entails providing free prime land.” She went on, “If the worst happens, they can rebuild the prisons at Luzira by selling off a few acres.”
The proposal to move the prisons was supported by Fredrick Angura (NRM, Tororo County South), who noted that “Luzira is slowly and surely being eaten up by urbanization” and that “correctional facilities are not in the city centers throughout the world.”
Jonathan Odur, the MP for Erute County South, stated that a substantive motion ought to be made and added that discussing the relocation in its current form validates the procedure.
Speaker Anita Among stated that the decision to move the prisons is an Executive order, but she accepted Odur’s suggestion that a meaningful motion regarding the prison relocation should be moved.
Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition, stated that there have been numerous instances where land has been donated but no development has been done.
He noted that there is a lack of trust because land has been given away before and no development takes place adding that “That is the biggest issue here, When there is no trust even when you have a good idea, the public will not buy into it”.
