The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, led a delegation to inspect the ongoing works at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Accompanied by a team from Parliament, she expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade, supervised by Sports State Minister Hon. Peter Ogwang.
During the tour on Monday, 15 April 2024, Speaker Among commended the UPDF Engineering Brigade for their exceptional work, stating, “I did not expect to see what I have found here.” She emphasized the importance of conducting a forensic audit to determine the exact amount of funding required to complete the project.
Among remarked, “We shall do a forensic audit to see how much money we have spent on the project and how much more needs to be done
due to the proposed variations.”
In response to the upcoming African Nations Championships (CHAN) competitions in June, Minister Ogwang directed contractors to expedite all pending works and ensure the facility is ready within two weeks. He reiterated the urgency, saying, “We need to ensure that the stadium is fully operational to meet the demands of the CHAN competitions and uphold Uganda’s reputation as a host nation.”
Additionally, the stadium is a key component of Uganda’s preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) competition in 2027.
Speaker Among affirmed the significance of completing the stadium in a timely manner, stating, “The successful completion of the Namboole Stadium is crucial not only for upcoming events but also for the long-term development of sports infrastructure in Uganda.”
With a total of 76 billion released for the project thus far, the remaining Shs17 billion is awaited for the final completion of the works.
Parliament has pressed the Finance State Minister, Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, to release the outstanding funds.
Speaker Among emphasized the need for prompt action, stating, “We urge the Finance Ministry to expedite the release of the remaining funds to ensure that the project is completed without further delay.
stating, “We urge the Finance Ministry to expedite the release of the remaining funds to ensure that the project is completed without further delay.”
Speaker Among also took action to address other issues affecting the stadium, including the removal of broken-down Pioneer Bus Limited vehicles from the parking lot upon Minister Ogwang’s request. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the stadium’s surroundings.
“It is essential to address all issues hindering the smooth operation of the stadium, including the removal of obstacles such as broken-down vehicles.”she said
Concerns over the delayed completion of the stadium were raised during a recent parliamentary session, prompting Speaker Among to request a comprehensive report from the Ministry of Education on the status of the project and the accountability of the allocated funds.
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