Will Namboole stadium evict encroachers from its land?

Development phases

Short term
-Pitch
-Floodlights
-Media center
-Dressing room
-Running track
-Water
Midterm
-Basketball court
-Volleyball courts
Long term
-Olympic size swimming pool
-Canopy

After winning a three-decade land title battle, yet another protracted fight awaits Namboole stadium's management.

They now have to sort out the issue of numerous encroachers who have moved onto the stadium's land.

There was a huge sense of relief on Monday when the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development issued titles in Namboole's names.

Authorities have continually stressed that with no land title in their possession, keeping encroachers at bay has been impossible.

Three titles were handed over Plot 1334 on Block 234 covers 1.660 hectares, Plot 6086 on Block 234 covers 12.6410 hectares, and Plot 6087 on Block 234 covers 35.899 hectares.

According to the 1995 constitution, any person who stays on land for 12 years must be compensated before eviction.

Government bought a total of 103 plots on Kyadondo Block 232 and Block 234 for the stadium in 1989. Compensation was done, though many people keep claiming they were not paid.

Appearing before the Bamugemereire Commission last year, Namboole Managing Director Jamil Ssewanyana revealed that of the sports facility's 129 acres, 60 acres had been encroached on.

Kirekka Veterans Groups, Kasumba Warehouse, Prayer Palace, Mamerito Hotel, owned by former Mayor Kiira Town Council MameritoMugerwa, Samsuding Night Parking, Byakuleka Lodge and Inn, Terazone Construction, who claim to be renting from Mamerito Mugerwa and Brig. Hudson Mukasa, Capt Haruna, and Bweyogerere Central Market were last year listed as some of the encroachers.

There have since been even more encroachers with a huge section between the stadium's parking yard and Kireka graded a fortnight ago. Yet another nearby portion has had a huge market like structure raised.

After receiving its land titles Mandela National Stadium's management is now in development mode.

But behind the respective authorities is how the sticky issue of encroachment will be handled. Huge sections in the long term development of the facility fall in the encroached area.

Speaking after receiving the titles, Education and Sports Permanent Secretary Alex Kakooza revealed that development and refurbishment at the facility would accordingly start.

Sports State Minister Dennis Hanson Obua also said development partners could now also be engaged.

"Previously with no proof of ownership, it was not possible to take this path," Obua told a packed press conference at the ministry's Embassy House boardroom on Monday.

Kakooza classified the development in short, middle, and long term.

Improvement.of the pitch, dressing rooms, media center, floodlights, electricity, water, and running track comprise the short term.

The midterm has renovation of basketball and volleyball courts.

The long term constitutes the construction of an Olympic size swimming pool and canopy.

Kakooza, however, didn't put timelines on the program which Africa soccer governing body Caf says is already behind schedule.

Namboole early this year failed a Caf test on suitability to host the continental body's and Fifa sanctioned matches.

Works on Namboole.are long overdue. Little in terms of improvement has happened at the multi-sport national complex opened in

Namboole is home to Uganda's national soccer side - the Cranes.

Namboole was built on a $30m soft loan from the Chinese Government. It was built by a Chinese company Complant and was supposed to have three development phases. The final two stages have however failed to start for over two decades.

The 40,202 seater stadium opened up to the public for the first time in 1997 with South African music icon Lucky Cube treating the huge crowd to a thrilling reggae night.

Namboole's land stretches from Kireka to Bweyogerere on blocks of land adjacent to Uganda's biggest highway the Kampala- Jinja road.

Namboole is home to Uganda's national soccer side-the Cranes. Many historic matches have been held at the venue.