Written By | Alex Mbamanya
Kakyeka earlier in January
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MBARARA
The Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, has ordered that Kakyeka Stadium belongs to Mbarara City and not Mbarara District.
There has been a long-standing dispute between the two local governments over ownership of the facility, which began after Mbarara Municipality was elevated to city status. Mbarara District has since maintained its claim to the stadium.
However, while addressing Mbarara District leaders today as part of his ongoing anti-corruption tours across the country, Barugahara ruled that Kakyeka Stadium belongs to Mbarara City and not Mbarara District. He added that a new arrangement would be made to provide Mbarara District with an alternative playground.
Kakyeka earlier in January
Kakyeka Stadium has suffered years of neglect, with its condition deteriorating due to a lack of maintenance.
Three years ago, the facility received approximately Shs1.3 billion from the Government through the National Council of Sports (NCS) for renovation. However, the works could not commence because of the ownership dispute between the two local governments.
This followed an earlier move by the President, who commissioned a contractor to undertake works at the same stadium in 2014. However, the planned works did not materialise for reasons that remain unclear.
Vehicles carrying Crusade materials into Kakyeka have left the playing surface damaged to this extent
The proposed rehabilitation has since stalled, with reports suggesting that the construction of Hoima City Stadium could initially have been intended for Mbarara City but was instead relocated to Hoima because of the aforementioned ownership dispute.
In the meantime, the facility has increasingly become a venue for music concerts and trade shows, with limited local football activities taking place there.
Despite being home to several Mbarara football clubs, the stadium has since lost its licence due to its poor condition. Mbarara City FC, its current Uganda Premier League tenant, now hosts its league matches in Rwamwanja.
With the ownership dispute now resolved by the minister, there is renewed hope that the planned rehabilitation programme will resume, giving the facility, which was built in the 1940s, a much-needed facelift.
