CAF officials inspecting Madela (Namboole) National stadium before it was refurbished
By George Bukenya
Uganda is at the verge of losing PAMOJA Afcon hosting as government bide plans that helped her jointly win the 2027 host rights for instance the construction of two new stadiums haven’t started.
Considering the 2024/25 Budget outlines, construction of stadiums hasn’t been made a priority as expected for such huge infrastructural projects that require huge budge funding and not even the biding process have commenced.
In the budget estimate the priority areas outlined are Peace and Security, road maintenance and construction of a few strategic road and construction projects of the standard gauge railway, electricity transmission but construction of stadiums in Hoima and Lira as had earlier planned was left out.
In September 2023 the East Africa Pamoja (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) beat South Africa, Zambia and Botswana as well as Senegal to host the 2027 Afcon as was revealed by the Continental football governing president Patrice Motsepe.
The furnishing of Mandela (Namboole) National Stadium was completed but CAF has not yet qualified it for hosting of matches yet the newly commissioned Nakivubo stadium is relegated to host trainings for CAF teams and local matches due to lack of space foe parking and exit routes.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President Moses Hassim Magogo when contacted by this website about the subject matter sounded coy.
The legislator for Budiope constituency said that the budget is a process which is not yet complete, and he was optimistic that the construction of the two stadiums meant for the hosting of the 2027 joint PAMOJA Afcon.
“The budget is a process and due to that fact the priorities can still change although construction of stadiums wasn’t outlined in presented budget plan.’’ Hon Magogo said.
The Minister of State for Education and Sports in charge of the sports docket Hon. Peter Ogwang said that government is still committed on hosting of the 2027 AFCON although he did explain why the construction of the two new stadiums was not prioritized yet it was one of things presented in the biding document that helped Uganda win the joint bid.
`Government is putting sports as priority in terms of bringing more revenue and that is why we are committed to the hosting of 2027 AFCON. Once we sign the contract with the international companies that are going to construct the required stadiums we will inform the public.’’ Hon. Ogwang made the assurance.
Although the time is running short given the period it takes to construct the ultra-modern football facility, the Minister said that there’s no need to panic that funds will be passed in the budget and construction once money is allocated can take less than two years.
Madela (Namboole) National Stadium after refurbishment
The deputy Speaker of Kampala Capital Authority Nasur Masaba a sports lover says that sports has never been a government priority and that is why its budget is always minimal compared to other sectors.
“ Government doesn’t prioritize sports and that is why it’s panicking to have infrastructures in place. There there’s no clear picture on how it’s going to develop the required play grounds and other facilities to enable us host the PAMOJA Afcon.’’ Mr. Masaba said.
“ We are bound to lose the hosting right because look at Namboole the only stadium that the country has it was given to non-qualified people to refurbish it and works done wasn’t up to the standards yet huge funds were allocated to it.’’
He said that he doesn’t see government constructing ultra-modern stadiums like she outlined in bide that helped win the joint East African hosting of the Africa prestigious football tournament because even budgets other government agencies are being cut.