Among demands accountability over Kakyeka, Masaka stadia funds

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As Hoima Stadium nears completion, Speaker Anita Annet Among has called for accountability regarding funds allocated for Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara and a similar facility in Masaka.

She echoed this while chairing plenary on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. At the time, the house was responding to a statement from sports minister Peter Ogwang on Uganda's readiness and preparations to host a successful African Nations Championship (CHAN), which gets underway on August 2 this year.

Uganda is slated to play Algeria, the finalists of the previous edition, on August 4 at Namboole Stadium at 8:00pm.

“I want to thank the Minister of Sports for the stadium in Hoima. I so happened to see the stadium and was very impressed. I now know where our money went. The stadium is really good, and works are ongoing. I want to thank you for the sports infrastructure and how we wish in the next budgeting season, we have training grounds in different cities around the whole country,” Among pointed out.

“There is the money that the President talked about. Money which was meant for Kakyeka stadium. We want an explanation on what happened to that money. I also know that we gave money to Masaka, we will also want an explanation on what happened,” she ordered.

NCS 2023/24 annual report

According to a report seen by New Vision, the National Council of Sports (NCS) received an appropriation of sh1.5 billion in the 2023/24 Financial Year.

The aforementioned funds were intended to upgrade Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara to an artificial turf.

According to the report, at the time of this allocation, Kakyeka did not have a project code.

“Therefore, MoFPED (Finance ministry) temporarily allocated the said funds to the NCS retooling project, which already had a code and would be transferred to the Kakyeka project once awarded a code,” the report states.

“NCS wrote to the MoFPED requesting that the Kakyeka funds be transferred from NCS Retooling Project to Kakyeka project, whose concept at the time had been tabled before the Development Committee in the same Ministry, no response was received. The sh1,150,000,000, which the MoFPED released to NCS was swept back to the Uganda Consolidated Fund as of June 30, 2024,” it adds.

Masaka Recreation

Meanwhile, Masaka Recreation Ground, popularly known as ‘Liiku’, has been undergoing a sh16 billion facelift for over a year.

Prior to this, the seven-acre facility had not seen any major upgrade since it was commissioned by Governor Andrew Cohen in 1954. At the start of last year, Minister Ogwang pledged to conduct a fact-finding visit to assess value for money.

What he discovered there, however, is yet to be known.