The administration of the Northern Region of Uganda (NRM) is immensely proud of our youth’s initiative to start building Uganda through projects like this one. We commend Ham Kiggundu for a job well done.
Museveni,Sports fans are counting down the days until the AFCON matches at the Hamz Stadium in Nakivubo, Uganda, in 2027. Today, Tuesday, Febr2024, the20, 2024, First Lady and Minister of EducaSports,nd Sports Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, paid an official visit to see firsthand how the rebuilt facility looks, especially inside.
“The NRM government is very proud to see the example of our young people beginning to build Uganda by putting up projects such as this one,” the immensely impressed first lady stated in her own words. We congratulate Ham Kiggundu for this excellent job.”
The Hon. Janet was given a tour of the approximately $200 million investment made by the youthful and successful developer Ham Kiggundu, who has constructed a state-of-the-art sports complex at the Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds.
ladyThe first lady’s visit occurs soon after President Museveni praised the young billionaire for his work on the Nakivubo Hamz Stadium in anticipation of Tanzania and Kenya co-hosting the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027. The President expressed his pride in the completed stadium’s works in a video that was posted on the official Government of Uganda X (formerly Twitter) account on December 23, 2023.
The stadium’s official reopening is scheduled for early 2024, although progress toward converting it into a cutting-edge sports complex has been made throughout the reconstruction project led by the industrialist.
The stadium can accommodate 35,000 spectators and will hold a variety of sporting events, including boxing, football, volleyball, and athletics. The $49 million project has also added to the revitalization of Kampala’s center by bringing in services like restaurants, a gym, and medical facilities.
The stadium has corner flags, goalposts, and artificial turf that is all installed. Its ultra-modern appearance belies its compliance with international design norms. Seats have been installed in the VIP areas and indoor facilities, and the stadium’s complete completion is much awaited.
In 2017, Ham Initiated took on the task of converting the outdated stadium into a contemporary sports facility.
However, obstacles have plagued the renovation. Ham has come under fire for supposedly putting the construction of surrounding malls ahead of the stadium. The project was further delayed by structural evaluations and legal challenges, causing it to stop for nearly a year. These difficulties were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted workers’ access to the location and resulted in a six-month halt to operations.
However, as the renovations draw closer to completion, the acquitted businessman acknowledged the earlier skepticism he encountered and made remarks about individuals who questioned the project’s viability. “Some Thomases (doubters) could laugh and say all sorts of words,” he said, recalling the skeptics. Now that the finished product was here, he wondered, Where were they?
Together with Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda will have the chance to host the AFCON in 2027, which will benefit all three nations’ economies, particularly the travel and tourism industries.
One of the most prominent football competitions in Africa, AFCON draws teams from all over the continent as well as spectators from around the world.
Just as Ham had hoped, the rebuilt stadium and the honor of hosting the games have given Ugandans a newfound feeling of pride.
