Kakyeka stadium is not our responsibility, says Mbarara City

Star Times Uganda Premier League fixture

December 3

Vipers Vs MYDA

Bright Stars Vs KCCA

December 4

Police Vs Wakiso

BUL vs SC Villa

Onduparaka Vs Express

December 6

Mbarara City Vs URA

The appalling situation of Kakyeka Stadium in the heart of the new Mbarara City, may not get a solution soon after the City Council authority distanced itself from any responsibilities of the management of the facility.

In line with Section 95 of the Local Governments Act CAP 243, Mbarara City, together with six other new Cities in the country, assumed and commenced operations as City on July 1st, 2020.

This would therefore prompt the transfer of some properties that hitherto belonged to Mbarara District local government, including Kakyeka Stadium, to the new City Authority.

However, this has not been done and the stadium whose condition has kept an increasingly deteriorating face is languishing at the hands of nobody.

When contacted, Mbarara City Clerk Theophilus Tibihika confirmed that the City Authority doesn't have any say on Kakyeka as of now.

"The stadium is still in the hands of its original management and that's the Mbarara District administration and we are waiting for the Local Government ministry to do with the transfer of the property, and before that handover, we cant claim or do anything about it," Tibihika said.

Mbarara District Chief Administration Officer Edward Kasagala confirmed the facility is still in their hands and that they have named a committee responsible for its maintenance in the meantime.

Kakyeka Stadium is home to Star Times Uganda Premier League side Mbarara City FC, and as usual, The Ankole Lions will find themselves playing some of their games away from Kakyeka after the local football governing body FUFA rejected the stadium for the new season that kicks off on December 3.

By Monday, Mbarara City club officials and fans were still working on the drainage, sanitation, goal posts, dressing rooms, and erecting covered areas on the substitutes benches as required by the FUFA Licensing committee, and will wait for another inspection from the same committee next week.

Mbarara City opens the new season with a home game against URA, but the game will be played away from home due to that state of the stadium.