The new Kampala capital city authority (KCCA) Executive Director Hajat Sharifah Buzeki along with Hajjat Minsa Kabanda and Hon. Kabuye Kyofatogabye, the minister and state minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs respectively visited Hamz Nakivubo stadium on Thursday where they were impressed by the new looks of the once dilapidated national facility.
The visit was in line with the forthcoming 2025 East African Local Authorities Cultural Association (EALASCA) Games that Uganda will host from the same facility on February 23-28.
Uganda is expected to field about 1000 athletes as hosts against participants from Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.
A number of outdoor games including football, basketball, netball, volleyball and athletics as well as indoor games like chess, draughts, darts, pool table and scrabble among others have been confirmed.
The games aim to strengthen regional unity and celebrate the spirit of East African integration and cultural exchange through sports and culture.
It was the first official visit for the new KCCA ED who was accorded a guided tour of the facility by developer Hamis Kiggundu, the CEO Ham group of companies.
“We were looking for a state of the art facility that can accommodate all the games. I am grateful that a Ugandan investor has this facility – and it is Hamz Nakivubo stadium,” noted Bazeki.
Minister Kabanda was a board member when the government entered into an arrangement with the businessman to reconstruct the facility. She does not regret the move they took.
“This stadium then was a hub of criminals at night. But now, it is the center of attraction at night in the city,” she noted.
KCCA Deputy executive director Benon Kigenyi, Director of Education and Social Services Charles Magnot, and the Deputy RCC Kampala Ali Nsubuga were also part of the tour.
“I built this stadium to show Ugandans that we can develop our country. It is my joy seeing this stadium uniting us regardless of our political or religious differences. I am happy to contribute to national pride. This is not my stadium, but a national treasure all Ugandans should be proud of,” noted Hamis.
Nakivubo has provided the best strategic option for Ugandan sport, especially football with three premier league clubs Express fc, URA FC and BUL FC hosting from the stadium.
The national teams also find home at the facility with the Crested Cranes set to host Ethiopia this month in WAFCON qualifiers.
The iconic multi-function stadium recently earned a prestigious nomination in the globally renowned Stadium of the Year Awards organized by StadiumDB.com.
