The Uganda People defense forces (UPDF) engineering brigade will undertake the second phase of the Mandela national stadium, Namboole.
This was confirmed by the State minister for sports Peter Ogwang in an exclusive interview with this website.
The renovation expected to commence soon will uplift the stadium to the Confederation of Africa football (CAF) desired standards to host the Afcon 2027.
“The contractor is going to be entirely the UPDF engineering brigade. The government earmarked USD60m for the phase two renovation. They are going to remodel Namboole based on the CAF recommendation. We are at the final stage of having the contract cleared so that we hand over the stadium to the UPDF for works to fit the CAF standard,” noted Ogwang.
“There will be roofing of the stadium, expansion of the seating capacity. CAF says that to host the final,a stadium has to have a minimum of 45000 seating capacity but when we put seats, the stadium came to 38000 capacity. So, more seats have to be added,” revealed Ogwang.
Jamil Ssewanyana, the stadium managing director revealed that the second phase will have upgraded and expanded dressing rooms, lounges, improved media facilities, and installation of sky boxes among others.
“The facility was closed the moment we ended CHAN. We are just waiting for the modalities from the ministry of education and sports and the ministry of defense and then we dive into the second phase of development,” noted Ssewanyana.
The UPDF engineering brigade was in charge of the first phase of development and handing the force the second phase is a presidential directive, according to Ogwang.
Sources told this website that Summa, the Turkish company that delivered the admirable Hoima City stadium before the contractual time, had been asked by the president to act as the structural contractors – something they turned down.
“Summa wanted to be the full contractors and only let UPDF work under them -something the president opposed in his desire to develop local capacity, especially in the national army,” the source revealed.
Despite minister Ogwang’s confirmation, the Chief of defense forces (CDF) Gen. Muhoozi Kaineruga, via his social media X-handle, said that the PDF will work with MS Summa.
“For my last message of the day I shall say this, UPDF Engineering Brigade shall work with SUMMA to complete Namboole on time for AFCON 2027,” Muhoozi posted.
Namboole, Hoima city and Lira-based Akii Bua stadium under construction are the match venues earmarked to host the AFCON 2027 that Uganda is set to host alongside Kenya and Tanzania in June and July.
