Namboole Stadium will be Ready by June 2023- Sports Minister Ogwang

The Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang says Government is doing all it takes to ensure that Mandela National Stadium, Namboole is ready by June 2023.

This comes at the backdrop of the recent AFCON qualifier game where Uganda Cranes played their home game in Egypt and losing it to Tanzania after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) blacklisted all the local stadia for failing it meet the required standards.

During plenary sitting on Thursday, Minister Ogwang came under pressure from MPs to explain the circumstances under which Uganda Cranes played away from home and also to update the House on the progress of works in Namboole. Ogwang said renovation works are on course and they are hopeful that the stadium will be ready to host Uganda’s next home game against Algeria on 12th June.

“As of now, UPDF was able to secure the entire Namboole land by fencing. UPDF was able to begin renovations by demolishing the dilapidating structures in the hotel and stadium. UPDF has finalized issuing all contracts and now await the delivery of what is required to have the stadium ready for our next game,” he said.

On 2nd December 2021, the Ministry of Education and Sports signed an MOU with Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs to undertake the renovation of Namboole Stadium. Parliament appropriated Shs 97 billion for renovation works under Phrase one and Shs81 billion was released. He commended UPDF engineering brigade for its competency and commendable job so far.

“The UPDF engineering brigade is very competent and in the area where the brigade has no expertise, they have been able to outsource the expertise. For example; on the construction of the pitch, we are working with a consultant from United Kingdom (UK), it’s the one which is directly responsible for the pitch irrigation systems,” Ogwang said.

On behalf of Government, Ogwang apologized to the public for failing to renovate the stadium on time for the AFCON qualifier and promised to complete first phase by 1st June 2023.

“We are going to work hard as much as possible to have our next home game scheduled for 12th June played here in Namboole. We are working with FUFA to look at the key requirements that CAF needs so that we can rectify them to have the stadium ready,” he said.