Nakivubo stadium redevelopment stalls

Nakivubo stadium Board of Trustees Chairman Charles Egou narrowly escaped arrest Wednesday.

Egou had irritated Judge Elizabeth Alividza after he failed to turn up for cross examination in a case where developments at Nakivubo are being challenged.

"I am issuing a warrant of arrest and also giving the fourth defendant (Ham Enterprises) the last warning," stated Alividza at the Commercial Court.

Nakivubo developers Ham Enterprises, owned by Hamis Kiggundu, were represented in court by one of the businessman's employees.

Egou, who is the first witness, was only saved when Alividza opted to issue him criminal summons. Court convenes again on February 13th 2020.

David Tebusweke, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, noted that the defendants were making it a habit to avoid court sessions and requested the judge to take action.
Egou is also a witness for the third defendants- the Attorney General.

KCCA, represented by lawyer Dennis Byaruhanga, were were the only defendants in court.

In the previous session court directed Egou to present an approved plan and agreements upon which construction started.

The petitioners are from various sports backgrounds.

They want a court declaration that the leases and construction agreements between the Nakivubo board and Ham Enterprises are illegal and therefore null and void.
The developers have surrounded the sports facility with giant shopping structures in contravention with world soccer governing body FIFA.

 
FIFA regulations stipulate that stadiums should have ample parking and evacuation space.

While Kiggundu had promised to put up a modern sports facility that  would be complete this year, the small piece of land left for the stadium remains undeveloped.

"According to the 1953 Nakivubo War Memorial Act, sports is supposed to take precedence in whatever developments on the 13 acres.

 
"That has been abused. What we have now is a market selling things like under ware, which is unacceptable," complained the petitioners.