The Commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade, Col. Godfrey Tukamwakira, has pledged to construct the Kyambogo football stadium in the next five months.

This is one of the training facilities the country will use to host the Confederation of African Football Championships (CHAN) 2024 later this year and AFCON 2027 jointly with Kenya and Tanzania.

“The Engineering Brigade will work tirelessly with the key stakeholders in the PAMOJA project to see that this facility is finished within five months of starting the operation,” Tukamwakira noted.

The first phase of the project on the west end of the university entails grading the facility, perimeter fencing, dressing rooms, drainage plus water system, and lavatories with the installation of floodlights.

The second phase will have the VIP stand, medical room, administrative offices, tennis courts, and basketball courts.

Kyambogo University VC Prof. Eli Katunguka having a word with UPDF) Engineering Brigade, Col. Godfrey Tukamwakira.

Col. Tukamwakira made the revelation on Tuesday, May 21, after the university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Council of Sports (NCS) on behalf of the government, to redevelop the university football facility in preparation for the two football events.

The first phase of the facility’s construction is slated to cost sh14.3bn.

The Government delegation was led by sports state minister Peter Ogwang and included National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary Bernard Ogwel, NCS chairman Ambrose Tashobya, NCS board members Margret Basemera and Cecilia Anyakoit, as well as other members of the local organising committee.

Minister Ogwang rallied the contractor first to secure the university boundaries and then embark on the work proper to see to it that the project is a success.

“Please see to it that the university land is free and safe from encroachers like you did to the Namboole land. This will enable you to work efficiently without any inconvenience from the encroachers and squatters,” Ogwang said.

Prof. Eli Katunguka expressed delight that Kyambogo University is becoming a leading sports hub, boasting state-of-the-art sports infrastructure among universities in the country.

“I am glad to benefit from the government on two occasions starting from last year when the government sought the university as a worthy host of the cricket oval for the development of the game, and now its CHAN and AFCON which we are taking on very seriously,” Katunguka said.

This will be the second AFCON project that the UPDF engineering brigade has embarked on after being tasked with the redevelopment of Namboole Stadium.

NCS chairman Ambrose Tashobya said he is confident that the UPDF Engineering Brigade will execute the work perfectly.

“I am very confident that UPDF will pull off an exceptional job and have the facility ready in the stipulated time possible,” he said.