Court puts off Nakivubo case

By James Bakama

HEARING of a case involving Nakivubo stadium could not proceed on Friday. A group of sportsmen unhappy with developments at the sports complex had applied for an interim order.

But court noted that the hearing of the interim order could not go ahead before fixing of the main application for a temporary injunction.

Justice Angeline Luswata is presiding over the case. Fred Mukasa of Mbidde and Company Advocates represented the plaintiff at the court on Tweed Towers.

Parties assured

Court has assured the two parties that a date for the main application will be set soon.

Dennis Byaruhanga represented Kampala capital City Authority, who have been taken to court jointly with Nakivubo management and the Attorney General.

The complainants, led by Kampala Boxing Club chairman Ahmed Mbidde, want an injunction on numerous commercial activities fast cropping up at the sports facility.

This follows uncertainty over the future of the various sports activities in Nakivubo.

A huge commercial complex and a bus terminal are just some of the developments at Uganda’s oldest stadium that worry stakeholders.

Netball courts gone?

Ham Shopping Mall, which takes up the bulk of the land allocated by the Nakivubo trustees, also took up the netball facility.

Hamis Kiggundu, the proprietor of the mall, had promised to set up a more modern netball court.

But over a year later, Kiggundu is yet to deliver on his word.

Much as the Education and Sports Ministry and Nakivubo say they have embraced a private public partnership in developing the area, the sports fraternity is suspicious.

World soccer governing body FIFA, in an effort to ensure safety around stadia, is against crowded surroundings. 

“At this rate, the football facility will be next. It is just a matter of time,” state one of the plaintiffs Emmanuel Mwesigwa.