Kampala — THE long-awaited redevelopment of former Shimoni Demonstration Primary School and Teachers' College land has began. After a17-month stagnation, the Saudi investor, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Alsaud, has contracted Roko Construction to build a hotel.

Roko company secretary Manzi Acali said the first phase of the five-star hotel construction began last week. Acali added that Kingdom Kampala Limited is in charge of the investment worth sh98.7b.

He noted that the area will have a seven-floor hotel near Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and apartments at the lower part.

Construction is expected to last five to seven months after the approval of the designs.

The investor was given the land on December 18, 2006 and the hotel was expected to be ready for use by CHOGM delegates in November 2007.

Investment state minister Prof. Semakula Kiwanuka recently said the 14-acre piece of land was leased to the Saudi Prince for 90 years.

Prince Alwaleed is rated as the world's eighth richest person and the wealthiest Arab. His net worth is estimated at $20 billion.

In January 2007, the investor paid sh3.3b for the relocation of the school to pave way for construction. The school, which had 3,000 pupils, was relocated to East Kololo.