President Yoweri Museveni has approved the plan presented by Chinese investor Tian Tang from Tian Tiang Group to relocate Uganda’s Luzira Prison and transform the site into a luxurious five-star hotel.
Following this decision, President Museveni has thus instructed the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, to oversee the execution of the investor’s proposal for relocating Luzira Prison. The relocation project includes the construction of an International Conference and Commercial Hub Center on the designated land.
In a letter dated July 10, 2022, Mr. Museveni acknowledged receiving a proposal from Tian Tang Group outlining their intention to convert Luzira Prison into a five-star hotel, complete with a conference center. The letter also specified that the investor would bear the costs of relocating the prison to another site identified by the government.
“I have received a letter from Tian Tang Group proposing to re-develop the Luzira Prison into a five star Hotel, with a conference center- and relocate the prison, at their cost, to another place in the interior on a land identified by the government,” Museveni wrote in the letter.
“I totally support this idea,” the President added, before directing Gen Otafiire to start negotiations with Tian Tang Group about this Programme and also identify land “anywhere in the country” to relocate the Prison.
Following the directive, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice among other stake holders are gearing up for consultative meetings to see way forward as far implementation of the directive is concerned.
According to sources, the Uganda Prisons Service has identified 3.5 square miles in Buikwe out of which they have agreed to purchase one square mile for the said relocation.
“The family of the Late Antonio Lutwama Kabogoza who owned the land has 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.” a source confirmed.
The Ministry of internal affairs noted that 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 sell their interest in the said land to the Uganda Prisons Service for the Prisons relocation.
The implementation of the presidential directive would mark the end of Luzira Prisons at its current location on the shores of Lake Victoria, where it was established in 1927. As of July 2016, Luzira is the sole maximum security prison in Uganda, housing the country’s death row inmates.
