Uganda: Clock Repairs Hold Up Namboole Reopening

Solomon Sean Oseku and James Ssekandi

27 March 2011

Kampala — After close to six months closed to the public for renovations, Mandela National Stadium, Namboole will be opened and handed over the Ministry of Education and Sports in the coming days.

According to the state minister for sports Charles Bakkabulindi, the stadium is complete and the Chinese, who were in charge of renovations, have completed their work. “The Chinese have completed their work and on behalf of the government, I will receive the keys to the stadium next week,” Bakkabulindi revealed in an interview.

The country’s largest sports arena was closed last October after it was dented by its ridiculous schedule of hosting so many events including political party meetings, music shows rendering most parts of the playing turf unusable.

Renovations in the complex kicked off after the Uganda Cranes 3-0 annihilation of Angola in the opening game of the group J African Cup of Nations qualifiers. However, the scoreboard has been a major impediment. The Chinese are still trying to fix it to work at all times because it’s the clock and at the same time a scoreboard keeper.

Regulating events

Bakkabulindi also revealed that he’s going to instruct the management of the stadium to regulate the number of events held there in order to protect it from further dilapidation. “I am going to instruct them to limit the use of the stadium for both musical events and football matches because our priority is for national engagements” Bakkabulindi said.

“Regulation will be the solution to keeping the stadium in shape and fit for use. They can use the outer pitches. The stadium will still host some of the events because they have to be self sustaining.”

Bakkabulindi used the opportunity to caution Nakivubo Stadium.

“Nakivubo management should take the same initiative Namboole took and close the stadium for some time to allow the pitch regain its green,” he advised. “Nakivubo is over straining itself and need to tame their activities. When they do that, they can even make more money.”

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