CHOGM SUMMIT A BOON TIME FOR SECURITY PERSONNEL IN KAMPALA.

By Leo Odera Omolo.
 
The Commonwealth Summit or CHOGM, scheduled to be held in the Ugandan capital next month is proving to be a boon for all manner of people.
 
It is also going to be a hard time for detectives and plainclothes security officers who will be detailed to protect the meeting VIPs.
 
A source in Kampala revealed at the weekend that the sleuths assigned to the duties of protecting VIPs have each received a stipend to invest in new suits and shoes, to ensure that they don’t tarnish the image of the city which was once described by the late Great Britain wartime politician Sir Winston Churchil as the Pearl of Africa with their threadbare ‘’Mitumba’’ (second hand suits)
 
‘’We might now even be mistaken for delegates,’’ one officer was quoted by a local media house as having remarked.
 
Meanwhile Presidential suites to accommodate heads of government during the Commonwealth Summit are said to be ready.
 
Last week one hotelier took MPs on an inspection tour of one of the city hotels, Speke Resort Munyonyo.
 
Mr. Sudhir Ruparelia had told the MPs that the renovation work on the Resort Complex with a total 230 rooms complex had consumed USD 34 million.
 
The hotelier had entered into a joint venture with the government to construct the complex in which he owns 75 per cent shares and the government of Uganda 25 per cent.
 
The hotelier told the Parliamentary select committee on CHOGM which is chaired by Hon. Onyango Kakubo that the suites are of 5 star Hotel status.
 
The nightly rate for each room is USD 500. Each suite is self-contained with a kitchen, two extra twin beds, a lounge, dining room and press room.
 
The MPs also toured Golf Course Hotel which will accommodate Foreign Affairs ministers during the CHOGM Summit.
 
At the famous Imperial Royale Hotel which is situated next to the Kampala Serena Hotel one of the managers, Mr. Steven Mayanja, told the group that by the end of this month all construction work will be complete, and thereafter 275 will be ready and completely furnished.
 
Ends.
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com