Lawmakers have demanded an investigation into the burning of Uganda House during the GenZ led anti-tax demonstrations in Nairobi, Kenya.
The six-floor commercial building on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi was partially burnt on 25 June 2024.
The report of the Committee on Public Accounts (Central Government) on the Auditor General’s Report on Uganda’s High Commissions in Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi and Mombasa for the 2022/2023 financial year indicated that the ground, first, second and third floors of Uganda House were heavily affected by the fire.
The report was presented by the committee’s deputy chairperson, Hon. Gorreth Namugga, on Tuesday, 15 October 2024.
Namugga said that committee established that the preliminary assessment estimated the restoration cost at Shs6 billion.
“Government of Uganda should, bilaterally, engage her Kenyan counter-part to explore possible compensation to restore the building,” she said.
At the time the building was burnt, it was under renovation and expected to be handed over to Government of Uganda by the contractor on 28 June 2024 with Namugga adding that destruction of the building poses accountability challenges.
“The building was burnt before hand over and Government of Uganda spent Shs24.4 billion. All this money was spent,” she said.
She added that whereas subsequent floors had minimal damage and are being used by staff, the whole building should be closed down for the safety of embassy personnel.
Lwemiyaga County Member of Parliament, Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo, said that before any renovations are done, an independent investigation into the incident should be done.
“An attack on a foreign mission should not just pass off casually as they seem to be doing. We are seated here, we are not probing that before we put our accounting officers to task,” Ssekikubo said.
Hon. Alex Byarugaba (NRM, Isingiro County South) said that an independent investigation will enable government to make a decision that will not antagonise the relationship of the two countries.
“Has the Ministry [Foreign Affairs] investigated the cause of the fire? Why do we rush to the conclusion that it was the rioters? Possibly, that is why President Museveni said he will handle it,” he said.
Hon. Enos Asiimwe (NRM, Kabula County) urged government to establish if the contractor insured the building during renovation.
“My understanding is that a project renovation worth US$6 million should have had project insurance and in most project insurance today, we have extension for civil unrest because I do not see why we are pushing Kenya to compensate yet we have insurance,” he said.
The Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Jackson Kafuuzi, said that the matter is being handled diplomatically.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs), Hon. John Mulimba, said that neither of the two countries are responsible for the destruction of the property adding that substantive progress has been made to redeem it.
“There are terms and conditions under which construction and eventual hand over was envisaged. In all these, there was a condition of force majeure. It talks about circumstances which are beyond human, including civil unrest,” Mulimba said adding that, ‘I agree that we need Uganda House and we are doing everything possible to reclaim it, bilaterally. I would plead that you leave these matters to us.’
