Nyamityobora FC priced out of Kakyeka stadium
Nov 29, 2018
Two Uganda Premier League sides Nyamityobora and Mbarara City registered Kakyeka Stadium as their home ground for their home matches in this season’s league.
Nyamityobora FC is caught between a rock and hard place after they were presented with a bill of sh650,000 for every match they stage at Kakyeka stadium in Mbarara.
According to a letter written and signed by Fred Tushabe Rugara on behalf of the Mbarara District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Cuthbert Esoku, to Nyamityobora FC, the club is supposed to pay to Mbarara district local government a sum of
sh500,000 for every game they play at Kakyeka, and also pay sh150,000 to Mbarara City every time they use the facility.
Why Kakyeka is a problem
The two Uganda Premier League sides Nyamityobora and Mbarara City registered Kakyeka Stadium as their home ground for their home matches in this season's league.
However, Mbarara City rushed to the Mbarara Ddistrict authorities, under whose jurisdiction the management of Kakyeka Stadium lies, and secured a memorandum of understanding (MoU), to renovate the then dilapidated facility, which they did.
In the memorandum, it was agreed that Mbarara City does not pay user fee, like it was doing in their first season of the league, but that any other club that wants to use the facility, pays.
After the local football governing body FUFA cleared Kakyeka for the two sides' home league games, it is only Mbarara City that has started using it and Nyamityobora is still playing at Wankulukuku.
Misagga cries foul
A visibly angry Nyamityobora president Ben Misagga took exception to the way the matter has been handled by Kakyeka management committee under Mbarara district administration, which he says is working under the influence of his rival administrator Mwene Mpaka of Mbarara City.
"I know they are doing all this to let us down because they rival us. Why should we pay sh300,000 at Wankulukuku and then sh800,000 for Kakyeka. I think they have taken this rivalry beyond football," Misagga said.
Misagga said the club management was going to appeal to the Mbarara district local government over the matter, before the club's next home game against SC Villa on November 30.
Mbarara City, Mbarara CAO react
Mbarara CAO Esoku, acknowledged the letter written on his behalf, giving Nyamityobora FC guidelines on the usage of Kakyeka, but advised them to appeal if they feel offended or treated unfairly.
"That facility is there to generate money for the district from whoever uses it. However, sports is given the first priority because it's a sports ground. But I advise Nyamityobora FC to appeal if they feel they are offended by the guidelines," Esoku said.
Mbarara City CEO Sadam Mugalu said they are not in any way blocking Nyamityobora from Kakyeka.