Akon planning to build city in Uganda

The Ugandan government revealed at a press conference that it would give AKon “a place suitable in Uganda that has not less than 1 square mile [2.6km²], which will be made available to him and his team,” Minister for Urban Development Isaac Musumba said.

The ‘Lonely’ hitmaker has been trying to fulfil his ambitious plan to build a city in his native Senegal for a number of years. Much like Senegal’s Akon City, the Ugandan project will feature amenities such as shopping malls, stadiums and recreational facilities, and will operate under his cryptocurrency Akoin. The costs of construction or date of commencement have not been disclosed. However, the project is expected to be completed by 2036.

Akon commented on the news at a conference a few days later. “There’s so much about Uganda that I never knew existed,” he said. “I’m determined to expose that. I want people to understand how beautiful Uganda is, and the best way to do that is to build my city here.”

The singer was asked whether Ugandans would be able to afford services in the futuristic city. “I know if I put it there, they’re going to find a way to afford it because it’s going to motivate them ... I don’t look at it as the standpoint of something that people can’t afford. But ultimately when you create an opportunity, people grow with that opportunity, people learn with that opportunity, people are motivated with that opportunity.”

Uganda’s opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change, has reportedly said that it is a “public secret” that Akon City would never come into existence, despite the government’s willingness to earmark land for it. 

Touted as an upscale destination for African Americans, Akon’s plans for his Senegalese city include building luxury condominiums, a seaside resort, office parks, a university and gravity-defying skyscrapers. In August last year, the musician said the project would commence early in 2021 and its first phase would take about three years to complete. The R&B star has raised about $4bn of the required $6bn to build the city on a 800-hectare site situated about 100km outside the capital Dakar.

The latest announcement adds to Akon’s ambitious plans. In 2019, the singer also expressed plans to run for US president sometime in the future.