Lira City, April 25, 2024 Lira City Council has launched a Shs 834 million beautification and greening project to be implemented by a private company, Dubai Garden Centre (U) Limited.
According to city authorities, the project to be completed in two and half months is geared towards maintaining and protecting the environment via planting more trees and flowers as well as erecting more facilities at the city council premises.
Meanwhile, trees and flowers have been planted while fencing of the Mayor’s Garden started a month ago, even though the official launch of the project happened this week.
The money for the project is a bonus that was awarded to the Lira City Council by the World Bank under Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Additional Funding [USMID-AF].
Details show beautification and landscaping will cost of Shs 82mln, erecting chain link fence takes over Shs 188mln, construction of guard house will cost Shs 195mln, construction of public toilets will take over Shs 180.5mln, construction of canteen and restaurant is allocated over Shs 115mln while construction of the shed for vehicles is to cost over Shs 60.77mln
Theophilus Tibihika, the Lira City Clerk said the smooth running of the USMID project was the reason for bonus funding. Under USMID that benefited several cities, and municipalities across the country, Lira City constructed a number of tarmac roads.
Meanwhile, Leonard Otika, Lira City Environment Officer said the dream of having a green environment in the city is now a reality.
He said that it is healthy to live in an environment that is pleasing.
“It has been something which we have been yearning for, for years. I’m really very happy, we are moving forward as a city. We should not just be talking, we want to be seen doing things. We need to live in an environment which is pleasing,” Otika said.
On his part, Sam Atul, the Lira City Mayor said that if the beautification and greening is done, more revenue would be generated into the city council coffers, especially from the hiring of the Mayor’s Garden for functions, as well as the canteen.
He added: “Beautification has another component to it, apart from only making the place to look smart. In the case of the Mayor’s Garden, the gardening aspect will give us space behind council building. The space can be hired for social functions. The canteen will provide us with some little revenue.”
Atul said previously the city was known for poor garbage management but this has now changed.
On his part, Alfred Okello, the Dubai Garden Centre representative in the Northern Uganda promised to deliver quality work in the stipulated period.
“We pledge a good job. We shall commit ourselves to execute this project in a record period of time. We will not compromise quality because we are hoping that this make Lira a modern city,” said Okello.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Egole, the Lira Resident City Commissioner, called upon the city councilors to ensure beautification of the council premises since this is where they do most of their tasks.
Egole is hopeful that the beautification will also go beyond the city council premises to cover other parts of the city.
“Let us embrace beautification of Lira City in whichever way. We hope that when we start with council, we will also move out and ensure that our environment in Lira City is totally green,” said Egole.
The agreement for the beautification and greening Lira City was signed on March 22, 2024 and the project is expected to be handed over on June 28, 2024 by the contractor.
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