Chunks of Namboole space lying idle

By James Bakama 

YOU would expect federations to scramble for slots in Uganda’s biggest sports facility.

That, has however, not been the case as local sports bodies continue shunning Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. Namboole not only boasts of multi-discipline facilities, but also vast office space.

Not even the fact that many sports bodies have constraints in accessing training and competition facilities, has helped matters. 

A New Vision Sport survey revealed that of the 53 sports bodies registered with National Council of Sports, only 15 have offices. 

Namboole’s Managing Director Jamil Sewanyana revealed that despite efforts to interest various sports disciplines, there has been a poor response.

“While some want the facilities free, others say Namboole is not readily accessible and prefer to operate from the city center,” explained Sewanyana.

Sewanyana says that not even Namboole’s efforts to schedule its activities accord

ing to the federations’ calendars paid off. “We asked them for their respective calendars but only athletics and football responded.” 

Athletics and football are the only regular disciplines at Namboole. Uganda Athletics Federation stages most of its international and national events at the facility just like FUFA.

Sports journalists’ body USPA is the only sports body with offices at Namboole. Of the 40 0ffices, 20 are rented by none sports related organisations. 

The cheapest of the offices has been going for sh200,000 a month. New rates will soon be released. 

Sewanyana pointed out that rent had to be revised to fit to current economic trends.

FUFA Super League teams Victoria University and Kira Young FC that use Namboole as their home ground pay sh500,000 per match. 

Namboole reaps much more from USL games that go for up to sh2.5m for double headers.

Ageing facilities 

As sports bodies continue shunning Namboole, facilities at the 12-year stadium continue ageing meaning that this huge investment has not been properly utilized.

Some of the outdoor facilities like the tennis courts are in a bush while the perimeter fence on the volleyball area is soon collapsing. Machines in the gym are rusty. You could probably blame the lack of attention for the minimal activity.

However, Namboole management is not about to give up on its efforts to have more activity at the facility. 

A 2013-17 strategic plan lays out several ways on how Namboole plans to boost activity.

These include a move by Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) to establish a national fitness center at Namboole. 

UOC plans to upgrade Namboole’s gym for that purpose.

A stakeholders meeting involving all sports bodies, the media and representatives from neighbouring Kireka and Bweyogerere communities will later this month be held with the aim of boosting activity.

There are also efforts to bring closer football and volleyball teams that train in the stadium’s parking yard and a pitch close to the perimeter wall. 

“We are formalizing the relationship so that they start using facilities inside the stadium,” said Sewanyana.

What has been serving as the football team’s pitch will be turned into a garden for other forms of entertainment. 

Namboole is also encouraging more basketball, hockey, volleyball and football activity in the parking yard.

Unused land

On the vast chunks of unused Namboole land, Ssewanyana says the land will first be freed of squatters and encroachers. 

Namboole will thereafter go into partnerships with the various disciplines to develop the land. Namboole stadium has a capacity of 45,202 people. 

The stadium was built with a grant of $36 million dollars from the People’s Republic of China. Originally it was called Namboole Stadium, getting its name from the hill on which it was built. 

It is now officially called Nelson Mandela Stadium though locals still call it Namboole. 

It was opened in 1997 with a concert by Lucky Dube, a reggae artist from South Africa. Dube died in his country later.