CAF Team Inspects Nakivubo Stadium As East Africa Warms Up To Host AFCON 2027
The inspection team from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Africa’s football governing body visited and evaluated Hamis Kiggundu’s Nakivubo Stadium in preparation for Uganda’s bid to co-host AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania.
Nakivubo stadium currently under renovation came into the picture after it was earlier assessed by the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) who were satisfied beyond doubt and it was submitted as one of State of the art Stadium in the heart of Kampala that will be used if East Africa’s Pamoja Bid comes through.
East Africa harbors the dream of hosting the coveted Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2027 and the efforts put in to make sure this comes is evident with expressions of interest and guarantees by the governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania submitted to CAF with the willingness to invest billions of money, the progress is seemingly on the right course.
This week, CAF sent a team from Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) including Adam Vojtekovszk, Omar El Ghiati, and Lakshmikanth Karunanithi to carry out an inspection of the proposed facilities in regard and Nakivubo stadium being one of them.
Led by FUFA President Hon. Eng. Moses Magogo, CAF officials also visited Namboole Stadium, Denver in Garuga, Wankuluku Stadium, St Mary’s Kitende, Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) Mulago Hospital, Sheraton Hotel Serena Hotel, and Entebbe Airport Facilities before heading to Tanzania for a similar mission.
Magogo also proposed that stadiums in Lira and Hoima will be considered in the bid submitted to CAF.
Prior to CAF’s visit, FUFA officials conducted a preliminary assessment of Nakivubo Stadium. Led by Vice President Owek. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the team was accompanied by Ham Enterprises General Manager Omulangira Edward Nakibinge, Eng. Christopher Omara, and Ivan Ssewankambo.
The bid to host AFCON 2027 received significant endorsement when CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe visited Uganda in mid-July the previous year. During meetings with Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, both leaders passionately advocated for Uganda’s hosting bid.
Speaker Anita Among emphasized the potential impact of hosting AFCON 2027 on talent development and societal transformation in Uganda. Dr. Patrice Motsepe, accompanied by CECAFA President and Tanzania Football Federation’s President, Wallace John Karia, pledged support for Uganda’s successful hosting of AFCON 2027.
CAF inspection holds great significance for Uganda’s football community, as the nation eagerly awaits the verdict on Nakivubo Stadium’s suitability and the overall success of its bid.
Hosting AFCON 2027 would be a momentous achievement for Uganda, signifying its growing prominence in the African football landscape.
More About Nakivubo Stadium
After completion, Nakivubo will feature a gym, medical facility, restaurants and other amenities with several sports disciplines such as football, volleyball, athletics and boxing, among others.
Built to modern standards, the 40,000-seater ‘War Memorial Stadium will be a reminder of the old good days for football lovers.
“We have followed modern stadium trends from all over the world in whatever we have included in the construction of this facility because we didn’t want visiting teams to have excuses with anything regarding the facility. So, from the turf to the dressing rooms to the stands and everything else will be completed to international standards,” Ham said.
Nakivubo will be a multipurpose stadium making it Kampala’s most famous and iconic ground with unique amenities like lifts for the physically handicapped, cinema halls, an area for indoor games like Table Tennis and Pool, VIP boxes that can be booked by a group of people on top of ordinary sitting, VVIP and executive boxes on the first tier. The executive boxes seat about 20 people each with extra amenities like self-contained lavatories, sofa sets, a conference room, and a resting area. Each category of fans will have its own entry and exit points.
Additionally, the stadium will also have multi-level parking able to accommodate over 1,000 cars on top of other amenities like restaurants, gyms, and facilities for people with disabilities (PWDs).
Behind the goalposts on one end will be a netball court while on the other a basketball court. There will be no running track as had earlier been planned following architectural changes.
The home and visiting teams will have a medical section room each, on top of dressing rooms that can seat up to 30 people each. There are also enough showers that can be used by all players of both sides on top of two referees’ rooms and lockers, and change rooms for all stadium support staff including ball boys who also have their rooms and amenities just like the kit’s men. There is also an allowance for a gym and a boxing ring under the stands.
Parking for service vehicles like ambulances and those of the VIPs are catered for including residential rooms for 80 people for teams that might want to stay for residential training.
The stadium will also have a big screen and floodlights as well as security cameras installed around the stadium.
