The Mandela National Stadium, commonly known as Namboole Stadium, is nearing completion of its renovation and is set to be commissioned in mid-May, according to the State Minister in charge of Sports, Honourable Peter Ogwang.
Ogwang announced the anticipated commissioning during the grand opening of the reconstructed Nakivubo Stadium. He stated that the stadium works are currently at 95% completion, signaling the imminent conclusion of the renovation process.
During his remarks, Ogwang addressed the President directly, stating, “Mr. President, sometime in the middle of next month, depending on your schedule, we shall invite you to commission the refurbished Namboole Stadium.”
He also expressed gratitude to the leadership for overseeing the final phase of the project, noting, “Thanks to your leadership, the works are now in the final phase and are 95% done,” he added.
The renovation of Namboole Stadium was initiated after it failed to meet the standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), particularly after serving as an isolation site during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the Uganda Cranes were compelled to host their matches in alternative venues abroad.
With the renovation now nearing completion, CAF has instructed the Ugandan Football Association (FUFA) to organize test matches to assess the stadium’s readiness to meet the required standards for hosting international matches.