Uganda – Process to renovate, upgrade Namboole Stadium underway

Launched in 1997, it has taken the government of Uganda 23 years to give Mandela National Stadium, Namboole a facelift, the minister of sports Hamson Obua insists what they will do is renovation and upgrade.

The rude awakening was after a CAF inspection in March 2020 ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers where Uganda is supposed to host Kenya, Rwanda and Mali. CAF recommended that the playing surface, dressing rooms, flood lights, media areas and sitting areas for fans need to be renovated to FIFA standard before Cranes should think of playing at the grounds.

According to Obua, the work has already commenced with consultations on what needs to be done and in which timelines.

“Works are already underway in phases and phase number one was consultations and agreeing in principal with the Ministry Of Education And Sports to renovate and upgrade Mandela National Stadium. This was after the ministry inspected the facility and according to the report, it was agreed that the renovation needed to be done on the facility. We shall need to access the bill of quantities and the cost implications in order to renovate this sports facility and that will be done by the Ministry of Works and Transport,”

– Minister Hamson Obua told the media on Wednesday morning at Namboole.

This website also learnt that the Ministry of Education and Sports has already touched base with their counterpart at the Ministry of Works and Transport to assemble a competent team to handle the bills and assessment project.

“It’s their report that will give guidance on the bills of quantities we shall present to cabinet for consideration and approval. Then we shall be in position to move to Parliament to search for resources as contained in the bills of quantities before. Later the PPDA Act (Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets) will apply and we shall move into the phase of procurement,”

The minister though didn’t put a timeline to when the actual works on the facility will commence much as there is need for some urgency.

The second inspection of the facility was meant for June 2020, but FUFA president Moses Magogo revealed that that inspection was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The World Cup qualifiers that were meant to commence in October were postponed, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are also currently in suspense.

Source: football256.com

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