Uganda Lands Commission (ULC) has handed over a land title to the lands minister, Judith Nabakooba, to facilitate the establishment of Akon City. Nabakooba revealed the land will be given to the Senegalese-American singer Akon to set up his second city in Africa known as the Akon City. In April 2021, Akon, real names Aliaune Damala Badara visited Uganda in search of investment opportunities that would extend his business footprint in Africa where his efforts include a planned futuristic city.
Nyeko Pen Mogi, the acting chairperson of Uganda Lands Commission told the minister that the land estimating one square mile (640 acres) was under freehold register Volume 53 Folio 9 and is owned by ULC. “We visited this land in November 2020 and it’s a beautiful place, but our concern was that such a place with beautiful sceneries overlooking Lake Victoria was not generating income for the country. It’s not creating any job for anybody in this place,” Nyeko said.
Akon has been building a city in his native country of Senegal over the last few years. If all goes per plan, the establishment of the Akon City in Uganda will be complete by 2036. Akon City is envisaged to have its own hospital, police station and even its own cryptocurrency already named AKoin. It promises a bit of everything: a seaside resort, a tech hub, recording studios and even a zone dubbed ``Ugawood'' that developers hope will help develop Uganda's film industry.