Namboole determined to beat W. Cup deadline

Dilapidated: Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, needs refurbishment to meet standards. PHOTO/FILE/JOHN BATANUDDE

What you need to know:

  • There is still hope: At least Shs30b of the Shs97b allocated for phase one of the stadium’s refurbishment has been approved by Parliament for the Financial Year 2021/2022.

The postponement of the Fifa Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers from June to September, October and November window was the last golden chance for Namboole to host home matches again. And it looks like the opportunity will be grabbed. 

Parliament recently approved Shs30b for initial refurbishments. It is due to be released in the July quarter of the 2021/22 Financial Year.
That is part of the Shs97b allocated for the first phase of refurbishments. 

Shs430b is the estimated figure for the overall retouch of the entire complex, complete as first envisioned by the Chinese when constructing the stadium. 

Ssewanyana’s target

State Minister for Sports Hamson Obua chaired a meeting of stakeholders last week, which included the stadium managing director Jamil Ssewanyana, on the way forward.

With the first quarter release expected in July, Ssewanyana’s hope is they receive the money in a lump sum so as to tick off the basics as required by Caf and Fifa .  

“Our target is to be ready for October if all goes well,” Ssewanyana told Daily Monitor yesterday. 
“We are starting work on procurement process now.”

Uganda start their World Cup qualifiers away to Kenya in September before hosting their first home match against Mali the following month.
Fifa and Caf had temporarily approved St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, for that one but if these developments bear fruit, the Cranes could be back at their spiritual home for the Mali encounter.

After their initial inspections of the stadium last year, Caf and Fifa ruled that Namboole was out of sorts and that it fell way below international standards to host games. 

The management was tasked to improve the playing surface, upgrade flood lights, dressing rooms, work on the media tribune and install CCTV cameras.
The technical area will also require an upgrade, as well as installation of seats across the entire 40,000+ capacity stadium as indicated in its original plan.

The demands...Conditions for Namboole to host Caf/Fifa matches

  • Improve playing surface
  • Improve flood lights
  • Upgrade dressing rooms
  • Work on media tribune 
  • Install CCTV 
  • Improve technical areas
  • Install seats