Plans are being made to locate a site for a new facility to replace Luzira Maximum Prison, which may be transformed into a high-end hotel in the future. A leaked letter from President Museveni dated July 2022 confirms this initiative.
The Tian Tang group, a Chinese investment agency, is interested in converting the prison into a luxury hotel with a conference center, with the government expected to find new land for the prison’s relocation.
President Museveni has expressed support for this proposal and directed negotiations with Tian Tang to proceed.
The government’s relocation efforts align with the Public Private Partnership Act (PPP) enacted in 2016, allowing private investors to finance infrastructure projects. The Ministry of Finance aims to relocate both Luzira and Kigo prisons through PPP arrangements, as confirmed by spokesperson Jim Mugunga.
Prison authorities have previously suggested relocating Luzira Prison to Mukono District to alleviate overcrowding. Although a similar proposal was rejected by the Human Rights Committee in 2013, Commissioner General of Prisons Dr. Johnson Byabashaija supports the idea, emphasizing the need to address congestion issues.
Former Justice Minister Gen Kahinda Otafiire has advocated for relocating Luzira Prison and Butabika Hospital outside Kampala to accommodate the increasing number of inmates and mental health patients.
Otafiire highlights the need for a new national prison elsewhere, citing Luzira’s limited capacity and proximity to the city.
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