After a competition that drew interest from more than a dozen firms from around the world, a joint venture of Ugandan and South African firms has won a $79-million contract for a multibuilding complex of government facilities and commercial housing in Kampala, Uganda.
The team of Kampala-based TWED Property Development Ltd. and Group Five Property Developments Pty.—a subsidiary of Johannesburg-based construction, concessions and manufacturing firm Group Five—was picked in August as the preferred bidder for the design review, procurement, construction, financing and management of the Justice, Law and Order Sector House project. It will be carried out as a public-private partnership.
Uganda’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on Aug. 12 announced the TWED-Group Five team was chosen over eight other short-listed contenders, including four from China and one each from France, Greece, Israel and Portugal. It said 13 firms or teams expressed interest in the project.
TWED Chief Operations Officer Herbert Sande Tinka said the state-owned complex will include three housing units, totaling 120,000 sq meters.
The project also includes a new headquarters for Uganda’s police service and facilities for the court of appeals and the country’s high court.
The ministry said the TWED-Group Five joint venture was selected because its bid offered a larger amount of locally sourced materials and reduced cost.
As much as 70% of the project’s construction materials will come from local sources. For example, Hima Cement Co., which is 70% owned by Lafarge-Holcim, will provide cement.
FBW Uganda Ltd., Kampala, is the project’s architect. The firm has worked on other projects in Uganda, including a British High Commission chancery complex, World Bank offices, the Swedish Embassy and Nissan Motorcare Kampala.
Tinka said materials proposed for the housing project include double-glazed cladding, which would keep the interiors “relatively cool” while providing enough light and reducing energy use. “Lighting for public areas will be focused on solar energy,” he added.
Tinka said ROKO Construction Co. will be the construction contractor, and Stanbic Bank Uganda and Standard Bank South Africa will provide financing.
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