The Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Anitah Among ordered the UPDF Engineering Brigade that is contracted to renovate Mandela National Stadium at Namboole to expedite the work to have the construction done within two weeks.
''I urge the responsible authorities to expedite the construction work and make necessary changes to ensure we can host games at the stadium''. Speaker Among said.
Speaker Among has however asked the Confederation of Africa Football to reinspect the stadium based on the standard of the construction work which she said is currently meeting the international standards.
This was after the speaker inspected the ongoing renovation works at Mandela National Stadium following the refusal by Confederation of African Football (CAF) to approve the Shs80Bn renovation works undertaken by UPDF Engineering Brigade.
The speaker said, the pending works include the installation of the video surveillance system, and marking in parking, while among the completed works include the installation of seats, 45 male toilets with urinal troughs and 90 toilets for females are said to have been installed refuting reports of shoddy works at Namboole stadium.
Peter Seku Kidemuka, the UPDF Project Engineer, for Mandela National Stadium, said that the construction of the perimeter at Namboole cost Shs3.8Bn and the Army was able to secure all the 128 acres of land, from several squatters including a witch doctor who had claimed ownership of part of the land.
"Works for the perimeter wall at Namboole started on 25th January 2022 and works were completed on 25th June 2022, and the project cost Shs3.8Bn and all the 128 acres of land are secure. We even had a witchdoctor here who had a land title, but he had to ensure he went away," said Kidemuka.
The speaker requested the stadium management to clear the parking space and make it available for sports-related activities and thanked the Engineering Brigade for their exceptional work so far.
On 11th April 2024 Speaker Among directed the State Minister for Sports Hon Peter Ogwang to present a statement on the status of Namboole Stadium and the accountability of Shs97 billion that was released for that work.
"If they say they want more money, let them tell us what the Shs97 billion has done".
Speaker Anitah Among noted that the National Team is supposed to play against Algeria in the qualifiers but the ground is not ready.
"Morocco offered to host us for free but Algeria has declined to play there because of their issues. Can the minister give us a way forward on Namboole"? The speaker told the Minister.
Chief Opposition Whip, Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe had expressed concern about the slow progress of works at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole expressing worry since Uganda preparing to host World Cup Qualifiers.
