Six upcountry stadiums to be upgraded

By Norman Katende

Stadiums to be rehabilitated

Recreation ground, Masaka

Kakyeka Stadium, Mbarara

Kabale grounds

Kyabazinga ground, Bugembe

 Municipal Ground, Mbale

 Pece Stadium, Gulu

STADIUM REQUIREMENTS

Pavilions with 500 seats

Capacity btn 15,000-20,000

Protected perimeter fencing

Modern dressing rooms

Stores, board room and offices

The Uganda government is in the final stages of rehabilitating six regional stadiums with a minimum capacity of 15,000.The sports department in the education ministry is in charge of the stadium rehabilitation exercise.

The first phase, which included the inspection of the facilities, has already been concluded by ID Forum and Habitant —two international consultant and construction firms, who are in charge of the projects.

“We believe that these proposals will be passed. What we want is to have good regional stadia to improve on sports across the country,” said the commissioner for sports Omara Apitta.

ID Forum is in charge of rehabilitating Kabale, Mbarara and Masaka stadiums, while Habitant will take care of Jinja, Mbale and Gulu stadiums.

“Both companies had a field visit last year where they analysed the problems on the ground. This is how they came up with the report and the costs. We are still discussing with them but this is our proposal which we think will benefit all the concerned parties,” said Apitta.

He explained that this is part of the capacity development programme, which includes seeing that each region has at least a good stadium.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni promised in his campaign manifesto that each region across the country would have at least a standard stadium as a way of boosting sports development in the country.

“We will have a meeting with the different stakeholders before coming out with the costs. At least most of it (costs) had been budgeted for in this financial year,” Apitta added.

A majority of the upcountry stadiums around the country are in pathetic states with no toilets, broken perimeter fences and pavilions.