Uganda: Encroachers At Namboole

Andrew Mwanguhya

14 July 2011

Mandela National Stadium, Namboole management do not have a title to the 48 hectares (over 40 soccer fields) of land on which the facility sits. The land is valued at Shs9b.

After the Chinese finished constructing the stadium – whose land title was in the hands of the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) – in 1997, they handed it to the two shareholders, the Education and Sports ministry plus that of Finance.

However, Namboole was incorporated as a limited company in 1999 under the Public Enterprise Reforms and Divestiture (PERD), which regulates its disposal.

But mid 2000s the title allegedly mysteriously disappeared, which partly explains why some people have encroached on part of the land. An artistic impression of the facility boundaries, which this newspaper has seen, shows part of the Kireka Prayer Palace church, just below Sports View Hotel, on the stadium land.

Kireka Prayer Palace church pastor John Mubiru, however, was not in position to comment. “I cannot discuss that matter on phone,” Pastor Mubiru said when contacted yesterday evening. Just next to the church, a new brick wall has been erected and a new container placed there, still on the stadium land.

Across towards the Jinja highway, another part of Bweyogerere market is also on the said land. Some politicians are said to be behind these encroachments, with Kiira Town Council mayor Mamerito Mugerwa allegedly, a major player. But Mamerito dismissed the claims. “If it is Namboole complaining,” said Mamerito, “Let them open up the boundaries, simple. “About the container, are they complaining about it being mine or me grabbing the land?”

Stadium board chairperson Jim Mugunga confirmed Mandela land is under threat but said it being owned under the Public Enterprise Reforms and Divestiture (PERD), which regulates its disposal, all will be fine. “We are taking the necessary steps to secure it. It’s true we have received many proposals (for redevelopment) but they are not sports friendly.”

Daily Monitor has learnt that the facility management has been under pressure with proposals pushed through by line politicians, including a bus park, fuel station and warehouses.

We can divulge that a special certificate of the title, which is a duplicate of the missing title, was secured on June 13, 2011, before a transfer of names from the Uganda Land Commission to Mandela National Stadium Limited was sheltered. But Namboole have to pay a stamp fee, normally one per cent (Shs900m) of the land valuation (Shs9b), before they can acquire the title.

AllAfrica – All the Time