New Parliament Chambers works have entered into the final phase as contractor completes steel works and embarks on roofing.
Construction of the new parliament chambers is being undertaken by Roko Construction Ltd. The works are expected to be complete by end of next year.
However, the steel works, the most sophisticated aspect of the contract, were sub-contracted to an Irish firm, Kelly Steel, a world wide reputable firm in bent steel frames.“We visited the new Parliament building which is taking shape beautifully! Impressive to see the unique expertise and craftsmanship from Kelly Steel and ROKO_UG , both owned by Irish diaspora. 3000 tonnes of bent steel frames from Kelly Steel shaped this landmark building,” a tweet from the Irish Embassy in Kampala noted.
Officials from the Irish Embassy in Kampala visited the new chambers this week to aquaint themselves with the ongoing works.Run by Carlow native John O’Kelly, this Irish-owned firm has established itself in the Middle East and globally. Known for elaborate architectural steel and complex construction fabrication, the company is responsible for high-profile projects such as the Butterfly Pavilion in Dubai, the ADNEC skyscraper in Abu Dhabi, and providing structural steel frames for landmark buildings.
Once completed, the bent steel works will be an architectural marvel ever to be undertaken in this country.The new parliament chamber works were supposed to be complete three years ago but time-lines were postponed by government following high profile changes in architectural designs after the 2021 twin suicide bombings at both parliament and Kampala Central Police Station that claimed three people.
The changes included inclusion of bomb proof glass and specialized services among others. Getting approvals for the above changes from relevant authorities worsened the delays.Mark Koehler the Chairman , Roko Construction Ltd said the company is committed to accomplishing the works by end of next year.
“We are going to have another architectural marvel in Kampala by the end of next year state of the art, very beautiful and high quality chambers,” he said.
“We are currently roofing the structure as we embark on final interior and exterior works,” he said.The new Parliament Chambers project features an 8-story block located in the North Wing of the Parliamentary building on Parliamentary Avenue.Designed primarily to decongest the main legislative building, it features chambers with a sitting capacity of 500 Members of Parliament, expanding from the colonial-era chamber that only accommodated about 90 people.
Other facilities include archive center, press gallery, spacious members’ lounge, library, dining hall, committee rooms, and offices for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
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