Finance Minister Declares ROKO Uganda’s Best Local Construction Firm

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija Musasizi has hailed ROKO Construction Ltd as Uganda’s leading local construction company, expressing confidence that the firm will deliver the new Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) Entebbe Office Block on schedule and to the highest standards.

Musasizi made the remarks on Thursday while presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the state-of-the-art UBOS House in Entebbe, a project expected to transform Uganda’s statistical infrastructure and position the country as a regional hub for data management, innovation and research.

Speaking to government officials, development partners, UBOS management, and representatives from ROKO Construction, the minister said the government’s decision to award the contract to the indigenous construction giant was based on its proven track record spanning decades.

“The project will be completed in three and a half years because we have employed the best local company in the country,” Musasizi said.

The minister praised ROKO for consistently delivering some of Uganda’s most iconic infrastructure projects, saying the company has built a reputation for quality workmanship and reliability.

He noted that the contractor recently completed the impressive multi-storeyed Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development headquarters in Kampala, describing it as another testament to the company’s engineering capabilities.

“We have confidence because ROKO has proven experience, especially in constructing major structures, and the country has never been let down by the company,” he said.

Landmark investment in Uganda’s statistical future

The new UBOS House is expected to become one of the country’s most advanced statistical facilities, providing modern infrastructure capable of supporting Uganda’s growing demand for high-quality data, digital innovation and evidence-based policy planning.

According to the project design unveiled during the ceremony, the facility will accommodate a modern Data Centre, Data Science and Innovation Hubs, training facilities, offices for census and survey coordination, research spaces, and other specialized units designed to modernize Uganda’s statistical systems.

The development also forms part of government’s broader agenda to strengthen institutional capacity through investment in modern public infrastructure.

Musasizi said the country’s statistical systems must continue evolving to match rapidly changing technological demands and international standards.

He emphasized that reliable statistics remain central to national planning, budgeting, investment decisions and socio-economic transformation.

“The facility will support research, innovation, skills development and improved data management through training hubs, innovation laboratories and a modern Data Centre,” the minister said.

He added that government remains committed to ensuring that Uganda’s statistical institutions possess the infrastructure necessary to produce timely, accurate and internationally comparable data.

Regional ambitions

One of the major highlights of the project is Uganda’s ambition to host the East African Statistics Bureau at the new complex.

UBOS Board Chairman Dr. Albert Byamugisha welcomed the initiative, saying it reflects Uganda’s growing leadership in statistical development within the East African Community.

He described the groundbreaking ceremony as a significant milestone not only for UBOS but also for the country’s public sector modernization agenda.

Dr. Byamugisha expressed gratitude to the Government of Uganda for financing the project and reaffirmed the Board’s confidence in ROKO Construction’s ability to complete the facility within the agreed timeframe.

“We appreciate government’s continued support and funding for this important investment,” he said.

He further said hosting the East African Statistics Bureau would strengthen regional cooperation, harmonize statistical standards among partner states and improve data sharing across East Africa.

Mukiza: A new chapter for Uganda

UBOS Executive Director and Chief Statistician Dr. Chris Mukiza described the project as one of the most significant investments in Uganda’s statistical history.

According to Mukiza, the facility represents more than just another office building.

Instead, he said it will become the nerve centre for Uganda’s future statistical operations, technological innovation and capacity development.

“The project marks a new chapter in Uganda’s statistical development,” Mukiza said.

He explained that the complex will host the East African Statistics Bureau, a modern Data Centre, Data Science and Innovation Hubs, training facilities and offices dedicated to coordinating national censuses and surveys.

Mukiza added that the investment will have far-reaching economic benefits beyond improving statistical services.

He said construction and subsequent operations will create employment opportunities, enhance skills development, encourage innovation and strengthen evidence-based decision-making across government institutions.

The Executive Director stressed that quality statistics are increasingly becoming indispensable for governments, investors, researchers and development partners seeking reliable information to guide planning and investment decisions.

ROKO pledges timely delivery

ROKO Construction Chairman Mark Koehler thanked the Government of Uganda and UBOS for entrusting the company with another strategic national project.

He pledged that the contractor would deliver the facility safely, professionally and within the agreed construction period.

Koehler said ROKO remains committed to maintaining high engineering standards while working closely with government and all project stakeholders throughout implementation.

He emphasized that professionalism, collaboration and strict adherence to quality standards would remain central to the company’s approach.

The Finance Minister also challenged ROKO and all stakeholders involved in the project to ensure timely completion while maintaining value for money and uncompromising construction quality.

He said government expects the project to become a benchmark for public infrastructure delivery.

A construction giant built over decades

Founded in 1969, ROKO Construction Limited has grown into one of East Africa’s largest indigenous construction and civil engineering companies.

The company was established by the late Max Rohrer and Rainer Kohler, who brought more than five decades of combined construction experience in Africa with the objective of contributing to Uganda’s development.

From initially operating in Uganda and Tanzania, ROKO has expanded its footprint into Rwanda, Kenya, South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, using Uganda as its regional operational hub.

Over the years, the company has developed into a largely self-sufficient engineering firm employing an average of about 1,800 workers while investing heavily in training engineers, technicians and skilled craftsmen.

ROKO also maintains a substantial fleet of earthmoving and heavy construction equipment capable of undertaking complex civil engineering works, road projects and high-rise commercial developments.

The firm’s portfolio includes some of Uganda’s most recognizable landmarks, among them the Bank of Uganda headquarters, Workers House, Village Mall Bugolobi, Acacia Mall, Mestil Hotel, and the recently completed Ministry of Finance headquarters.

Its involvement in the UBOS House project therefore adds another major public infrastructure development to a portfolio that has shaped Uganda’s urban skyline for more than five decades.

As construction begins in Entebbe, government officials say the new UBOS House will not only provide a permanent home for Uganda’s statistical operations but also position the country at the forefront of statistical innovation in the East African region, reinforcing the critical role of quality data in driving economic planning, governance and sustainable national development.