Namboole embarks on 2nd phase

By James Bakama

WORK on the second phase of the Namboole sports complex will begin soon.

This phase, planned to be complete in three years, covers an Olympic swimming pool and hockey, football, rugby and athletics training grounds.

“We’ve started working on the sketch plans. We shall soon embark on the specifications and thereafter process documents to interest public and donor participation,” explained Namboole’s management committee boss Swaibu Mulinnya.

There are also efforts to interest the Chinese government to fund the project. Mandela National stadium was officially opened in 1998.

China financed the first phase in a $36m grant, and recently answered Uganda’s pleas for more assistance by sending a team of experts to assess damages at the complex.

The experts will scrutinise the tartan track, scoreboard, electrical system, public address and plumbing installations.

The current scoreboard is old fashioned with a very high electricity consumption. “Our plan is to install a digital scoreboard with the capacity to not only run advertisements but also televise matches,” said Mulinnya.