david adjaye designs government office campus in nakawa, kampala

the government office campus development project in nakawa by david adjaye is part of africa’s largest planned urban redevelopment. its form resembles the shape of 10 cones of ice cream. ozwald boateng, international designer and co-founder of the made in africa foundation and chris cleverly, CEO, alongside architect david adjaye, presented their vision to the government of uganda on the foundation’s lead project: the urban regeneration of 160 acres of the naguru-nakawa areas of kampala, uganda.

in line with its purpose to advance major infrastructure projects in africa, the made in africa foundation has provided financial support for completion of master plans and feasibility studies for the project. this has allowed the project to achieve momentum and attract private sector funding for commencement of construction of what will be the largest planned urban redevelopment project ever undertaken in africa. working closely with the developer, irish billionaire brian comer of comer group, and influential ugandan prince hassan kimbugwe, the foundation has enabled the building of the first of 1,000 affordable homes of the first phase of the development to begin.

adjaye was contracted by opec prime properties uganda – a stake holder in the nakawa–naguru modern city project – to construct the government office campus on the site. these structures will be occupied by government agencies that were operating from rented premises. adjaye talked about the importance of space and light in the project. its form resembles the shape of 10 cones of ice cream…

the made in africa foundation is a charitable foundation set up to provide ‘first mile’ finance for master plans and feasibility studies for transformational and large scale infrastructure projects in africa. its co-founder, nigerian oil and gas entrepreneur kola aluko, said during the presentation: ‘for the made in africa foundation to have made such a significant contribution to a project of this importance is a remarkable achievement and is a testament to our belief in making things happen, rather than just talking about them.’

ozwald boateng added, ‘this project has been able to advance dramatically due to the funding provided by the made in africa foundation. so many projects in africa get stuck at the first hurdle, but the naguru-nakawa project has now achieved major milestones, including attracting the talents of world-renowned architect, david adjaye, who has proposed an iconic office campus employing thousands of ugandans which will form the center-piece of the new kampala. we are very proud of what the team on the ground have achieved.‘

the naguru-nakawa project will eventually provide in excess of 3,500 residential units, a church, school, offices, hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and leisure facilities: in short, a satellite town that will provide a model to be replicated across africa.