By David Serumaga
In 2017, the Government of Uganda through Parliament trusted City Mogul Hamis Kiggundu of Ham Enterprise with the mandate to redevelop the Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium.
After visiting the Stadium to assess the construction progress, I can assure my Countrymen, Women and President Museveni’s Bazukulu that what started as a designed architectural plan is currently at 68% implementation level and will be unveiled to Government for public in 2021.
Despite criticism from a cross-section of the public, the Government working under “Public-Private-Partnership” approved Ham Enterprise to redevelop the Stadium and after completion handed over to Government.
However, the first targeted year of completion (2020) is almost ending and there is much that cannot be done in the remaining three months. The problem has not been a financial challenge but due to bouts of litigation and foundation that had to be raised from a wetland and the Novel CoronaVirus that interrupted the construction for some period.
Besides the challenges, Ham is still committed to complete this project and make Nakivubo Memorial War Stadium achieve the best East African Stadium status with modern sports facilities. A project which started from scratch can now employ between 1000 to 1030 youth.
According to Ham Enterprises, the Project has consumed over $20M but the total cost will be $49M with a seating capacity of 35,000 people and a parking space of over 10,000 cars.
It will also contain other facilities like indoor and outdoor games, volleyball and tennis courts, boxing gym facilities, roof pavilion, health club, hotels and offices among others. The Stadium is expected to boost several sports activities which will positively impact Uganda’s sports growth, increase the income standards of our sportsmen and women, create direct and indirect employment opportunities to hundreds of Ugandans and increase domestic revenue collected through sports and those willing to hire the Stadium for other activities.
From what Ham Enterprises has done so far, it proves that a number of our local investors who are committed to delivering quality products can also do it. It is a matter of believing in our own and give him political support so that this project can fully be completed and handed over to the government in time for public use.
