State Minister for Sport, Peter Ogwang, has announced that CAF inspectors will be arriving to inspect both Mandela National Stadium and Nakivubo Stadium. He confirmed this yesterday following a supervisory tour of the two stadiums by Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are poised to co-host the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), pending successful stadium inspections. The joint hosts are expected to provide one stadium to host the tournament. “I want to confirm that on February 25, 2024, we shall have CAF inspectors here to check the stadiums. Many may not be aware that we submitted the bid to co-host the African Champions CHAN together with Kenya and Tanzania, and that’s one of the reasons they will be here to inspect the two, which are also part of the bigger plans to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations,” stated Ogwang.
Officially opened in 1997, the 35,000-capacity Mandela National Stadium, also known as Namboole, is home to the country’s national football team, the Cranes. Since its construction by over 25 years ago, the stadium had not seen any major facelift until February 2022, when the UPDF’s Engineering Brigade was tasked with implementing renovation works.
In 2020, CAF released a report that deemed the stadium unfit to host any international matches. The facility had failed to meet both the continental and global prompting a ban. In particular, CAF highlighted issues with the playing surface, size of the pitch, dressing rooms, floodlights, pavilion, technical bench, media centre, and parking, among others, all of which were in a dire state.
On completion, the stadium will be updated with modern technology to host various international games, including football and rugby.Physical works at Namboole stand at 86%, with the remaining 14% embedded in the running track.However, the project, originally slated for completion mid last year, is several months behind schedule. Ogwang attributes the delay in construction works to a delay in the release of funds.
“The Shs17.7 billion balance that is meant to be extended through a supplementary approved by cabinet and parliament hasn’t come through. The first phase of completion would have been done by now,” he said.Following her visit to Namboole stadium, where she was given a guided tour of the facility under renovation, the First Lady called upon the Ministry of Finance to support the AFCON 2027 project with finances.
