Hey, lease Namboole to Rwanda

I hear people talking about East Africanism and pan-Africanism. These must be good -isms, but I would rather we sorted out our shabby little country before hankering after big chunks of territory and mythical opportunities?

Or, if we cannot sort out our patch, why not turn to our regional partners these people have been singing about to fix it for us?

Take the Mandela National Stadium at Namboole. We are only lucky that Mandela is not the sort of spooky guy who turns in his grave. Otherwise we might have been forced to change the name of the outfit that was christened in his honour.

Completed in 1997 by a Chinese contractor, abused and poorly maintained since then, the outfit has been under renovation for over a year now.

In an environment where virtually all public goods and works are failed, distorted or otherwise blemished by corruption and incompetence, the Namboole renovation contract was given to the army (UPDF), which – so it is said in Uganda’s mythology – is the remaining bastion of integrity and competence.

As is common with myths, helped by the cult of secrecy characterising our military, UPDF’s reputation has survived scandals that would have left most other institutions scantily dressed and staggering.

Those aiming to ingratiate themselves with the ruling NRM also tactfully flatter the UPDF. After visiting the stadium mid-last year, with his mind fixed, not on sport, but on when his religious crusades could trample the turf again, one pastor used his broadcast station to paint such a glowing picture of UPDF’s renovation work that even the hardest sceptic would be carried away.

Well, as it turns out, there are issues about Namboole that may be not just about the delayed completion of renovation work, but also about the total concept of the stadium; a range of features not being in place in the design.

In other words, even after completing the ongoing phase of work (contracted and already paid for at Sh97 billion), the stadium may not meet the standard set by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for hosting international matches.

But there is another problem. Even if the UPDF completes and hands over a cute stadium that meets international standards, it would probably be only a matter of time before the outfit is neglected, under-maintained and inappropriately and corruptly availed for mass functions that have nothing to do with sports, but which greatly accelerate its depreciation.

Ugandans would watch the facility decay, as they are accustomed to under NRM rule, until it becomes a graveyard for dead city buses again.

No redemption?

Ah! This is where East African cooperation comes in. Just as Uganda is repairing or constructing roads in eastern DR Congo, another friendly country can help Uganda with Namboole.

Now, I have not visited Rwanda, but everybody who has been there reports that Rwanda is very good at maintaining her infrastructure; whether it is an unpaved village road or a modern glass and concrete structure.

Furthermore, Rwanda’s President Kagame is said to be very devoted to sports.

By contrast, considering that Mr Museveni no longer plays football with his MPs, and has no family member who is a top athlete, the President may have no compelling reason to pay continuing attention to the national stadium.

Putting everything in perspective, there is a good case for invoking the East African spirit and leasing out Namboole to Rwanda for, say, 10 or 15 years.

By watching, Ugandans would learn how to run and maintain a public asset. A win-win situation.

Mr Alan Tacca is a novelist, socio-political commentator.
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