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Speaker Anita Annet Among has lauded the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) over the ongoing renovation works at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

“In my finding of yesterday [Monday], I took almost half a day in Namboole. Most of the concerns that had been raised by members had either been fixed or they are in the process, so we are almost good to go,” she told legislators while presiding over Tuesday's plenary at Parliament in Kampala.

“The works accomplished so far are very impressive," said Among.

"I must think the [UPDF] engineering brigade have done a good job and where they are not doing whatever is required, they have been able to outsource and bring in people who are competent enough to do that, which is a very good thing they are promoting Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU)."

The Speaker's comments came a day after she visited the stadium, commonly known as Namboole Stadium, on a fact-finding mission alongside some lawmakers, including commissioner of Parliament and Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga.

Concerns

Before Monday's visit, Opposition Chief Whip John Baptist Nambeshe (Manjiya county) and Jonathan Odur (Erute South) had expressed concerns over what they termed a snail-paced progress, with Nambeshe citing that some interior and exterior works were still ongoing.

Whereas works are still ongoing in the interior and exterior of the stadium, Nambeshe revealed that the stadium has been excluded from hosting upcoming World Cup qualifiers, which might compel the national soccer side yet again to host its matches abroad.

He had a copy of a report authored by Muhammad F. Sidat, the head of professional football of Africa's football governing body (CAF).

“So to speak, it has not been approved for the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) World Cup United 2026. That is African qualifiers match day three and four as you are aware,” said Nambeshe.

“I would love to have the minister report to us what has gone amiss, moreover we have an opportunity if these works could be expedited, we have a second chance because we don’t have another venue to host these FIFA World Cup United 2026 games."

Uganda is this year expected to host Botswana on June 3 and Algeria a week later in the World Cup qualifiers.

Weighing in, MP Odur informed the House that failure to complete Namboole Stadium within the scheduled time might also affect Uganda’s prospects of hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament (this year).

“You first host the African Nations Championships and if you are satisfied, they now confirm you to host AFCON and by December next year, we should have that stadium ready," said Odur.

Cost of renovation

A day later, sports state minister Peter Ogwang explained that the lag was occasioned by delays by the finance ministry to release a pending balance amounting to sh17.76 billion.

The money was triggered that very day and by Monday, it reportedly had arrived in the accounts of Namboole Stadium.

The aforementioned money is part of the sh97 billion required for phase one of the project.

According to the project manager, Peter Seku Kidemuka, works at Namboole currently stand at 87% and they are optimistic that Africa's football governing body CAF will clear the facility upon re-inspection.

The main components of the refurbishment included the installation of 40,729 stadium seats (286 VVIP, 1,564 VIP, and 37,981 ordinary seats), where old seats were removed and new high-density polyethylene seats resistant to ultraviolet rays have been delivered and are in the final stages of installation.

Kidemuka said works on the main pitch and training pitch stand at 95%, aligning with CAF's requirement that the training ground mirrors the main playing field. 

Works on the stadium hotel, equipped with 72 rooms, stands at 85% completion.

It is understood that together, a total of sh288 billion is required for the full renovation and upgrade of Mandela National Stadium to international standards. 

Of that amount, sh84.996 billion is required for phase two, covering the swimming pool, while sh105.541 billion is needed for phase three, covering the indoor arena.

While appearing before Parliament's budget committee on January 24, 2024, finance state minister for general duties, Henry Musasizi, revealed that the above additional resource requirements will be considered in a phased manner over the next two years (2024/25 and 2025/26).

Left out?

Meanwhile, commenting on this subject, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) president Eng. Moses Hassim Magogo took a swipe at the consultants of the ongoing stadium construction projects for sidelining them.

“As you have seen, the inspection is done by us first and then eventually done by CAF," he told fellow MPs. 

"So it would only be proper because there is the construction of stadiums that is going on by the private sector but also by the Government that it becomes a practice that we are involved as a federation to advise such that we do not get some of the challenges.

“To be specific about Nakivubo, we were not consulted and CAF has done an inspection and it has a report about the stadium and as we speak today, we cannot be able to host an international game there until certain things are done by standards," said Magogo, who is also the Budiope East MP.

Citing these developments, Speaker Among implored members to wait for a report by Mpuuga before forging a way forward.