Government would do well to help owners of sports facilities

The last week has rekindled the age-old discussion on sports facilities in Uganda, or the lack thereof.
The Commissioner for Physical Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports, Mr Lamex Omara Apita, was last Tuesday quizzed by the parliamentary committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) over accountability of Shs665m meant for the construction of John Akii-Bua Stadium.
A day later, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni made a tour of Nakivubo Stadium to witness progress of the ground’s controversial re-construction.

Sports facilities all over Uganda have either been neglected or mismanaged, and many are now derelict.
But while a good number have been run down, a few others have sprung up.
One such facility is the St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, which hosted Saturday’s massive StarTimes Uganda Premier League showdown between Vipers and KCCA.
The match attracted tens of thousands of fans and was beamed live on television for tens of thousands of other viewers. St Mary’s Stadium, arguably the newest sports complex in Uganda, is owned by Dr Lawrence Mulindwa and has hosted national and international engagements for Vipers and the Uganda Cranes.

The edifice was erected for billions of shillings and has, without a doubt, enriched the field of sporting venues in Uganda.
Yet the road that leads to St Mary’s Stadium from Kajjansi is in bad shape.
It would do the world of Ugandan sport a lot of good if the road was constructed.
At a time when the country is grappling with decaying sports facilities, it is only right that government offers a helping hand to private developers of sports facilities.

While the jury is still out regarding the implementation and execution of Public Private Partnerships with sports facilities, some facilities have been individually or institutionally erected and are already in use.
Universities like Ndejje and Uganda Christian University have put up some of the leading courts and fields in the country despite, and not because of government’s involvement.
Ultimately the sports ministry and government for that matter should take lead and help owners of private sports facilities like universities and Mulindwa with both concessions and infrastructural assistance.