Uganda Football Association (FUFA) has expressed its appreciation for the progress made in the redevelopment of Nakivubo Stadium to meet modern standards. The FUFA team visited Nakivubo Stadium as part of the preparations to present it as one of the three stadiums for hosting games if East Africa’s bid to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 is accepted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
To secure the bid, CAF required the East African governments to invest in the construction or renovation of the necessary stadiums, which FUFA alone couldn’t handle. With the approval of the bid by the heads of state of the East African governments, the remaining step is a CAF inspection of the proposed infrastructure in all three countries to assess their capacity to host the games.
During the visit, the FUFA delegation, led by Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the FUFA third vice president, assessed the ongoing construction works at Nakivubo Stadium. They aim to ensure that the remaining works meet the required standards in preparation for the CAF inspection.
Nakiwala stated that the stadium management has been enrolled in a sub-committee under FUFA, and they will engage with them regularly to advise on delivering a high-quality finished product. She expressed gratitude to the developer “Hamis Kiggundu” and the government for their efforts in improving the country’s infrastructure.
The chairman of Ham Enterprises, Edward Nakibinge, welcomed the FUFA delegation and emphasized their willingness to work with FUFA and consider their advice to deliver a world-class facility. He mentioned that the most challenging part of the construction is now complete, and the remaining tasks will be finalized soon, with the aim of hosting matches by the end of the year.
Ronnie Kalema, a FUFA Executive Committee member, noted that they will discuss with the stadium management the addition of extra dressing rooms to accommodate back-to-back matches on the same day, as often happens in AFCON matches. They also acknowledged the stadium’s integration of provisions for press boxes and other amenities to accommodate technological advancements.
Nakivubo Stadium, upon completion, will feature various amenities such as a gym, medical facility, restaurants, and facilities for multiple sports disciplines. The stadium is being built to modern standards, incorporating international standards for the turf, dressing rooms, stands, and other aspects. It will be a multipurpose stadium, offering unique amenities like lifts for the physically handicapped, cinema halls, and areas for indoor games. It will also have designated entry and exit points for different categories of fans.
Additionally, the stadium will include multi-level parking, netball and basketball courts, medical sections for both home and visiting teams, ample showers, referees’ rooms, and facilities for stadium support staff. It will have a big screen, floodlights, and security cameras installed for enhanced functionality and safety.
The ongoing development of Nakivubo Stadium aims to provide Uganda with a top-tier facility that can showcase the country’s potential in hosting major football events, contributing to the overall growth and success of football in the region.
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