The UPDF Chief Political Commissar Maj Gen Henry Masiko and chairperson of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, a body charged with the responsibility of foreseeing all projects undertaken by the UPDF Engineers brigade, led a team of senior officers to ascertain the readiness of construction works at Entebbe Internal Airport, Kajjansi National Medical Stores Oxygen Plant base and finally Mandela National Stadium, alias Namboole.
While speaking on the sidelines during the Wednesday tour, Maj Gen Masiko commended the UPDF leadership and troop engineers for agreeing to take up the mantle that will eventually lead to the social-economic transformation of communities. He said a UPDF is a pro-people Force, always ready to sacrifice for the sustainability of peace, stability and transformation.
He noted that the UPDF engineers brigade in total undertook about 163 projects, of which 66 have successfully been completed. At Entebbe International Airport, the team noted that construction of the new arrivals terminal is at about 85 percent done, and work is expected to be completed by September 2023. At Kajjansi National Medical Stores Oxygen Plant base, work is also about 85 percent done. The new projects at this site include the construction of a cylinder store and office block, tarmac inside roads, and paving and fencing of premises. Agreeable work was also noted through the reconstruction and upgrading of Namboole Stadium.
The renovations, which commenced on August 1, 2021 will allow a modern sitting pattern of about 39.981 football fans, and a 3 – Star hotel with 66 rooms is being reconstructed. This Shs64 billion sports complex is slated for completion around November 2023. According to sources, UPDF Engineers brigade is taking up all infrastructural developments under the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health to fulfill the earlier Presidential Directive that foresaw advantages like timely construction, quality and low-cost structures; delivered by the troops compared to private dealers.
Maj Gen Masiko was accompanied by Col David Muhanguzi, Col Patrick Semakula, Col Fulgence Mayiga, and Lt Col Godfrey K Tukamwakira, among others.