Uganda Management Institute (UMI) has officially launched the construction of their multi million complex, a building which upon completion will see the institute enroll more students as well as offer many new programs.

The Uganda Managment Institute Chancellor Florence Mugasha breaking the ground for construction of a multi million complex

The building projected to cost about sh19b, will be six storied, it will include classrooms, offices, a library and a state-of-the-art computer laboratory and ICT facilities.

James Nkata, the institute’s director general said, over the years the institute had grown in the number of programs they offered but they couldn’t admit more students as they lacked space and facilities.

They hope the new building will enable them accommodate more 640 students. Previously UMI has been accommodating only about 1640 students.

Nkata said that the complex’s construction contract had been awarded to China National Aero Technology Engineering Company (CATIC) at a contract price of sh18.6b. The supervision would be carried out by Arch Tech Consults (U) Ltd for a contract price of sh144m. And that the construction is hoped to be completed within 18months.

He said the sh19b project was first phase of a broader five phase estates development master plan they hope to complete in 35 years.

Arch Tech Consults manager, architect Herbert Muhoozi, said the building was high-tech it would be both cost effective with provisions for natural ventilation and lighting, adjustable walls, fire escape routes in case of emergencies and would have specialised features for persons with disabilities.

“Each floor will measure750 square meters. The parking lot will measure 1000 square meters. It will have 252 parking slots,’’ Muhoozi said.

Also, he added, they were proposing to construct a lay off from the main Jinja road highway so in case there was a function at the institute, it does not congest the traffic.

The Chancellor UMI Florence Mugasha said the complex was a way of showing the institute’s commitment to addressing Uganda’s development and manpower needs.

While officiating the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the complex at the UMI main grounds yesterday, Mugasha emphasised that the institute was modernising and expanding herself to adapt to Uganda’s human resource needs.

“As Uganda’s premier centre for management development for the public, private and NGO sectors and also for neighbouring countries, UMI must take deliberate steps in building its resources to satisfy this market and cope with the ever increasing competition,’’ she said.

New courses that the project will aid include PhD programmes in business and administration, institutional management and leadership, educational management and administration, among others.

Established in 1969 as an institute of public administration under the public service ministry, UMI was mandated to train civil servants in special public administration skills. However, in 1992, after the institute became semi-autonomous, it changed loyalty to belong to the education ministry.

The institute is one of the leading management institutes in Uganda.

By John Agaba and Paul Kalyesubula, The New Vision