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Erias Lukwago, the outgoing Kampala lord mayor, who also doubles as KCCA FC patron, promised to complete phase II of the MTN Omondi stadium in August, 2024.
The construction started in 2023 but works stalled due to processes which were beyond the city authority’s control. On Thursday last week, KCCA officials led by the executive director Sharifa Buzeki disclosed that the stadium needs Shs 39 billion for completion.
The government has so far given KCCA Shs 16 billion towards the stadium. It’s that money which KCCA has used to cover Phases 1 and II, but even more money is needed to make the stadium operational.
My reliable source at City Hall told me recently that KCCA had originally estimated about Shs 15 billion for the entire project, but the costs reportedly escalated to Shs 55 billion in order to match the Confederation of African Football (Caf) standards.
URGENTLY FUNDING NEEDED
Among the things urgently need are civil works, primary stand seats, mechanical works including fire equipment and air conditioners. Other items include electrical works, water tanks and lifts, as well as a 500KW generator and 1,550 floodlights.
Anisha Muhoozi, the club CEO, says the stadium management expects to start using the completed stand in April.
“If all goes well, we intend to start using half of the facility by April,” she says.
About the expired artificial turf, Muhoozi is noncommittal but accept that the artificial turf needs to be replaced as soon as possible. The current artificial turf has served its 10-year lifespan and expired in January, 2026.
Experts I have talked to say a good artificial turf costs between Shs 3.5b and Shs 4.5bn. It’s not clear whether the KCCA FC management and other stadium users will relocate their fixtures until a new artificial turf is put in place.
Immediately after the completion of Phase II, which will hold a seating capacity of 5,000, the contractor will shift to Phase III depending on the availability of funds.
In 2024, Peter Ogwang, the Sports state minister, commissioned the Omondi stadium and promised to KCCA, where possible, to secure all the required funds to complete the stadium before the 2027 Afcon, which will be co- hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
OBJECTIVES OF THE FACILITY
Omondi stadium was redesigned to a more cost-effective, phased development model, but even then, it has not compromised on core quality.
The five-floor storage facility has players’ and coaches’ dormitories, an ultra-modern gym, platinum boxes, dressing rooms for players and referees, doping facilities, a restaurant, meeting rooms and washrooms, among others.
Besides benefiting KCCA FC in terms of performance and talent development, the stadium management thinks the facility will be a step towards empowering the youth and solidifying Uganda’s reputation as a growing sporting nation.
So, this is not a mere stadium completion; it is an investment in Uganda’s future. The final allocation of Shs 39.4 billion is expected to deliver a complete, Caf-certified and safe national sports asset.
The stadium is home to KCCA FC, but it also accommodates other clubs like NEC FC, Proline FC, the Kampala Queen Women’s side and the Parliament of Uganda Football side. If the Omondi stadium is completed, it will be a big step towards the sports development in the country.
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