IUCEA SIGNS CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF ITS HEADQUARTERS

Prof. Mayunga Nkunya, IUCEA Executive Secretary shaking hands with Mr. Gu Ning, the Managing Director, China Nanjing International Ltd after signing the contract for building Phase one of IUCEA headquarters at IUCEA premises 10th June, 2014.

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has signed a contract with the Chinese construction company, Nanjing International Limited for building its Headquarters.

The contract was signed by the Executive Secretary Prof. Mayunga Nkunya on behalf of IUCEA and Mr. Gu Ning, Managing Director of China Nanjing International Ltd. The signing ceremony took place at IUCEA Offices in Kampala, Uganda.

The contract allows the construction of the first phase of the three phases at a plot in Kyambogo, Kampala which the Government of Uganda kindly donated to IUCEA.  The construction works will take 36 weeks. The signing of the contract was witnessed by Prof. Pontien Ndabaneze, Deputy Executive Secretary, IUCEA and Mr. Ronnie Chen, Deputy General Manager of China Nanjing International Ltd.

In attendance was also a representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of East African Community Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, Mr. Stephen Niyonzima, Ag. Commissioner, Political and Legal Affairs, among others.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the IUCEA Executive Secretary, Prof. Mayunga Nkunya reiterated that the rationale for the development of new IUCEA Headquarters was prompted by the on-going expansion of IUCEA activities which requires more working space beyond the rented premises, as this will also save on rental costs.

He noted that the process to construct the IUCEA headquarters was initiated in 2007 where the EAC Partner States agreed to contribute funds for the construction of the first phase.

The Ag. Commissioner, Political and Legal Affairs in the Ministry of EAC Affairs Mr. Stephen Niyonzima said that it is in the spirit of the EAC to realize the regional integration agenda under which the Government has continued to support the Inter-University Council for East Africa, including providing it with land to construct its headquarters.

The first phase of the IUCEA Headquarters construction will provide offices for the current staff members and will cater for the growth in staffing for the next three years. Phase One of the IUCEA headquarters project is being funded by the Governments of the five Partners States while IUCEA is mobilizing funds from other sources including the private sector for the construction of the other two phases. 

The Headquarters premises will have the physical capacity adequate to accommodate various requirements for effective implementation of the IUCEA mission, as well as for generation of income resources.

The facilities will include a Conference Hall to accommodate 500 conference members in plenary, a number of group sessions, mini-conference rooms, training rooms, an Information Resource Center (combined Library and ICT facilities), and offices. Others will include recreational and sports center, commercial building to accommodate various businesses, internal roads and parking areas.

Throughout the procurement process IUCEA has been working closely with the Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda and in consultation with the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Uganda.

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is an EAC institution whose mission is to promote strategic and sustainable development of higher education systems and research for supporting East Africa’s socio-economic development and regional integration.

Its vision is to become an EAC strategic institution responsible for promoting, developing and coordinating human resources development and research in the region. The objectives of IUCEA are to facilitate networking among universities in East Africa, and with universities outside the region; provide a forum for discussion on a wide range of academic and other matters relating to higher education in East Africa; and facilitate the maintenance of internationally comparable higher education standards in East Africa so as to promote the region's competitiveness.

The functions of IUCEA include advising the EAC Partner States on higher education matters so as to contribute to meeting national and regional developmental needs, coordinating inter-university cooperation in East Africa, and promoting internationally comparable higher education standards and systems for sustainable regional development.