The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs is looking for 3.2 billion shillings for rent. The ministry is among other government departments that spend colossal amounts of money per year on rent.
In the 2012/2013 financial year, government has provided 2.4 billion shillings creating a shortfall of about 830 million shillings.
Earnest Bafaaki, the Under-secretary in the Ministry of Justice, says the ministry headquarters alone need 1.4 billion shillings for rent for this year. Another 1.2 billion shillings in rent arrears for Georgian House, where departments of Administrator General and the Law Council are housed, still exists. The ministry’s main offices are house in Queens Chambers on Plot 1, Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala.
In order to mitigate the high cost of rent, Bafaaki says the Ministry has already acquired a land title for a 5-acre piece of land located in Naguru, Kampala. Construction of the Justice, Law and Law Sector house will begin from this financial year. He noted that the sector has planned to spend 5 billion shillings each year to construct the house.
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The committee on Legal Affairs had recommended that government provides 55 billion shillings in a phased manner for the House to be constructed.
Fred Ruhindi, the state Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, says that once the JLOS House is complete it shall house the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Justice and other institutions.
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Despite the mitigating factors to save on rent, the Committee through its chairperson, Stephen Tashobya, demanded for the rent agreements between the Ministry and its Landlord.
Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu also wanted to be furnished with details of the penalties accrued by the ministry for its failure to pay rent in Georgian House. The officials return to parliament next week.
