Museveni told lies, Nakivubo is not Afcon standard

On April 24, 2024, President Yoweri Museveni presided over the official reopening of the newly refurbished Nakivubo War Memorial stadium.

The renovation of this facility was spearheaded by businessman Hamis Kiggundu, commonly known as Ham. President Museveni commended Kiggundu’s efforts, emphasizing his role as a testament to the ruling NRM’s philosophy of ‘yes we can.’

During his speech, President Museveni detailed the strategic rationale behind leasing Nakivubo stadium to Kiggundu. He described the agreement as a clear and straightforward business transaction where the stadium was leased for redevelopment using private funds, with the costs to be recouped through business operations spanning 49 years. This approach, Museveni argued, moves beyond traditional ownership models to emphasize wider benefits for the Ugandan community.

Museveni emphasized the essential role of private investors like Kiggundu in advancing national development.

“If we have the private sector who can undertake such tasks as guided by the government and according to government standards, then there’s really no problem,” he stated.

The president affirmed that the renovated facilities comply with the standards required by Afcon and other international bodies, expressing his satisfaction with the project.

“I have seen the facilities; I have been assured that they meet the standards of Afcon and other international groups; so, I’m very pleased. Now, we have Namboole, which is a government one; this one is also government but now leased to Kiggundu for 49 years,” he said in a statement issued after the visit.

However, some experts and sports enthusiasts familiar with global sporting standards have raised concerns, disputing the claim that Nakivubo stadium currently meets all the Afcon standards. They are suggesting that there are still areas requiring further enhancement to fully comply with international requirements.

A sense of fulfillment must have filled the inner being of Ham Kiggundu after President Yoweri Museveni officially commissioned the newly revamped Nakivubo stadium last Wednesday. Kiggundu, a businessman and proprietor, had been drumming up excitement since last year about his ultra-modern stadium, which he hoped would bolster Uganda’s bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Indeed, the new Nakivubo stadium, or Hamz stadium as some prefer to call it in reference to the investor, represents a significant departure from the old facility that was demolished in 2017. The interior of this new stadium, beyond its entry and exit points, boasts truly beautiful facilities.

However, the lingering question is whether the visually appealing interior of the new Nakivubo stadium is sufficient to encourage Ugandans to anticipate it as a venue for Caf (the African football organizing body) and Fifa-sanctioned international games. According to the Caf Stadium Regulations Manual released in 2022, stadiums today are classified into four categories, accrediting them for international football, starting from the lowest level.

For example, Category One stadiums host Women’s Fifa youth football qualifiers and Women’s Champions League qualifiers. Currently, stadiums like the Fufa Technical Centre in Njeru and the old KCCA FC stadium in Lugogo can host events at this level.

Category Two stadiums permit matches such as Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, under-age men’s Afcon qualifiers, and final tournaments, as well as the Caf Champions League (Confederation Cup) preliminary round games. These matches can be played at stadiums like St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende the home ground of Vipers SC.

The third category of stadiums qualifies to host both group and quarterfinal games in the Champions League and Confederation Cup, as well as Afcon and Fifa World Cup qualifiers. Additionally, they can host a Women’s Afcon and Champions League final.

Furthermore, Category Four represents the pinnacle of stadiums on the continent. These stadiums are where Afcon and Africa Nations Championships (Chan) tournaments are held exclusively. Semi-finals and finals of the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cups, along with the Caf Super Cup, can only take place in stadiums certified for this category.

The new Nakivubo stadium is reportedly in this Category Four. According to the Caf stadium regulation manual, a Category Four stadium must seat a minimum of 30,000 spectators. However, Nakivubo stadium currently seats 20,000. Yet, with plans to expand its seating capacity to 35,000, concerns about meeting the criteria for a Category Four stadium will likely diminish.

Category Four stadiums are supposed to have four dressing rooms. This rule was established under the assumption that such stadiums would host major football tournaments like the Afcon. Therefore, on any given match day, they would accommodate two football matches, one following the other.

In this scenario, as was the case at the recent Afcon in Ivory Coast, the first two teams in action would occupy two dressing rooms. However, this does not mean that the teams involved in the second match would need to wait for the first teams to vacate their dressing rooms before beginning their match preparations.

Instead, they would utilize the two additional dressing rooms. During a tour of the new Nakivubo stadium, it was observed to have only two dressing rooms. That being said, Category Two, Three, and Four stadiums are required to have a training facility adjacent to them, complete with a dressing room capable of accommodating at least 23 people.

The training facility must also be equipped with floodlights, three showers, three urinals, and two toilets, all within a securely fenced area to ensure the safety of players. Currently, Nakivubo stadium lacks these facilities, and there is no space available to construct such a setup.

This situation raises concerns about the accessibility of Nakivubo stadium. The area around the stadium is exceedingly cramped, complicating the implementation of Caf regulations, which require convenient access for buses transporting players. The main road surrounding the stadium is narrow and often congested with informal traders and shops.

Moreover, the bustling activity in Kisenyi, a suburb adjacent to the stadium, heightens safety and security concerns. Although Nakivubo has a sizeable parking area, one of the major Caf safety conditions is that few vehicles should be inside or directly outside the stadium. For mass spectator events, vehicles should be parked at a distance from the stadium, similar to the arrangement at Namboole stadium.

In conclusion, Caf and Fifa have not yet sanctioned high-level football matches on Astro-turf (plastic) surfaces; thus far, no Afcon tournament has been played on anything other than natural grass. Perhaps Nakivubo, with an Astro-turf surface, will set a new precedent.

jovi@observer.ug