UPDF reports 77% completion of Makerere AFCON training ground

The UPDF Engineering Brigade has made steady progress on the Makerere University AFCON training ground, with construction now 77 percent complete.

Members of the parliamentary education and sports committee, led by Chairperson Cuthbert Abigaba and Deputy Emmanuel Ongiertho, concluded their oversight tour of all AFCON PAMOJA 2027 facilities yesterday, with inspections at Makerere and FUFA Kadiba Stadium.

After their tours, the contractors (UPDF Engineering Brigade) led by the Project Engineer Lieutenant Colonel Peter Seku Kidemuka assured them that all ongoing projects on the training pitches will be ready for the next CAF inspection on December 31.

The committee inspected ongoing work at Makerere University’s main ground before making its final stop at FUFA Kadiba Stadium in Mengo, both of which serve as AFCON training grounds in addition to the Namboole Annex, the Kyambogo University Ground, and FUFA Kadiba Stadium.

The other grounds that the UPDF engineering brigade is constructing concurrently include the Hoima Boma Grounds, Pece Stadium, Gulu University, and one at Lira University as part of the AFCON legacy projects.

Kidemuka told the MPs that the Makerere University ground and Kadiba is being constructed at a cost of sh21.8b and sh5.19b, respectively, which all have already been received by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. An additional sh441m for the construction of a drainage channel, which wasn’t in the project’s scope, is the only one that is still pending according to Kidemuka.

“We started this project on February 19, with a six-month contract. Our original goal was to finish by August 17th, but we faced some design issues, including Sero testing and other unexpected problems,” Kidemuka said.

“Because of these setbacks, we requested an extension to complete the main work by October 30th. Still, I am not confident we will meet the new deadline.

‘The main challenge is the lack of bitumen in the country. We have searched everywhere, but it is simply not available. Our only alternative, which we have already proposed, is to use concrete, though it will not give us the best finished product.”

He said they had also asked for a redesign of the roof because the one on the original design was too expensive and that they asked the consultants to revise it to fit in their budget.

“They have done this, and we will begin installing the roof soon, which should take about two weeks since we already have the necessary parts ready for assembly,” Kidemuka stated.

The project scope at Kadiba includes demolishing the existing football pitch grass surface and replacing it with hybrid grass, demolishing the existing 600 mm drainage channel, manholes, and inspection chambers, as well as improving the floodlights.

Patrick Ogwel, the General Secretary of NCS, mentioned to the MPs that the National Council of Sports had entered into long-term agreements with universities regarding the AFCON facilities at their campuses.

He explained that their focus is not only on creating AFCON legacy projects but also on providing top-notch sports facilities to government higher education institutions to foster sports development.

He said this was the case with Lira, Gulu, Kyambogo, and Makerere Universities.

“We have a memorandum of understanding, some of which stretch for 49 years. We hold the land titles as a trust for the government. These are all assets of the National Council for Sports for other groups like FUFA to use for development.

“We've also worked out agreements with them about how government money will be used to help these projects, and importantly, we've established a clear way for us to work together to boost sports in the country,” Ogwel stated.