Akright City Bwebajja secures UN International Residential Zone Status

August 12, 2025 in Companies, Real Estate & Property by Editor

Akright City Bwebajja has been designated as a United Nations International Residential Zone, placing it among a select number of Ugandan locations cleared to host UN officials and their families.

The decision — passed by the UN Security Council on August 4 and announced Sunday by UN Chief of Security in Uganda, Rtn. George Bush Ochieng — follows years of lobbying and targeted infrastructure upgrades by Akright management and residents’ leadership. News of the designation was broken to residents  in a meeting at Ark Gardens, attended by UN representatives, Arkright City Residents Association (ACRA) leaders, Akright founders, security agencies, and local authorities.

The designation confirms that Akright meets key UN standards for secure, comfortable, and reliable accommodation for expatriate staff. Among the attributes that earned it the status are:

• A fully fledged police station within the estate
• Support from the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF)
• Multiple emergency escape routes
• Proximity to the Entebbe Expressway and Entebbe International Airport
• Reliable utilities, water, and sanitation systems
• Controlled access points and a perimeter designed for security monitoring

The UN review team also highlighted the estate’s well-maintained road network, green spaces, and organised property management as contributing factors.

However, the assessment flagged areas for improvement, including tighter control of loitering by non-residents, completion of unfinished buildings, removal of overgrown vegetation, boosting fire-fighting capacity, and addressing noise and other risks from neighbouring unregulated areas.

Local police and UPDF officials pledged to step up deployments, set up additional boundary posts, and maintain a fire truck on standby. Residents were urged to install smoke detectors, keep fire extinguishers, and support neighbourhood security initiatives.

The UN status is expected to boost property values and spur investment in high-standard housing, international schools, medical facilities, and secure transport services for expatriates.

“This is one of the greatest achievements in the history of Akright City,” said Denis Kalyango, speaking on behalf of the ACRA leadership and security team. “The ball is now in our hands to tap the opportunities that come with it.”

Founded at the turn of the century by real estate visionary Anatoli Kamugisha, Arkright City represents one of the most successful private sector-led initiatives to promote affordable organised living and urbanisation in  Uganda. Working in conjucntion with DFCU Bank, Arkright enabled many working class Ugandans to own land and develop their homes in an organised urban setting.