‘We Need More World-Class Stadiums’-Museveni Commends Hamis Kiggundu For Investing In Nakivubo Stadium
President Museveni has applauded City businessman Hamis Kiggundu aka Ham for single-handedly investing in the redevelopment of Nakivubo stadium to world-class standards.
Speaking during the State of the Nation address, President Museveni noted that much as Uganda still needs more stadiums to be developed to world-class standards the likes of Nakivubo Stadium and Namboole will boost the country’s revenue as well promoting sports talent among youths.
”Apart from Namboole and Nakivubo, we need more world-class stadiums to be built. It does not matter whether they are government or private, as long as they are in Uganda” President Museveni said during the State of the Nation Address.
Museveni further added that the government is also looking forward to deliberately focusing on sports by building more stadiums and training facilities.
”Since 1986, we have been struggling with economic recovery, expansion, diversification and transformation. The talented sports youth have come up because of these general improvements. With a bit more revenue that we have now, we shall focus deliberately on sports by building more stadiums and training facilities. It is good that the high-altitude training centre at Teryetis now finished. These are just endozo(jaribu, fore-taste). With our growing economy, we shall do much more for sports. It is good, therefore, that the East African countries, together, put in a bid for AFCON (The Continental Football Competition) of 2027” he said.
Ham who takes pride in the project as Uganda’s legacy recently revealed that Nakivubo Stadium is almost done and is very hopeful that the fully renovated sports facility will host football matches before the end of this year further imploring Ugandans to embrace a mentality of belief in such mega projects.
“The Nakivubo redevelopment project is not just a sports project; this is a legacy. If I can, you too can do more to make Uganda a successful country with reason. Oftentimes, multimillion-dollar projects are given to foreigners but with the progress of the redevelopment, I want to create a mindset shift that we can also do it.” Ham said recently.
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 which 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.
Here Is A Snippet Of Latest Photos From Nakivubo Stadium
