President Museveni yesterday commissioned the newly refurbished Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, marking a significant milestone in sports infrastructure development in Uganda. The multi-purpose stadium, which has undergone a state-of-the-art face-lift, was developed by businessman, Al Hajji Hamis Kiggundu, popularly known as Ham.
During the commissioning ceremony, President Museveni extended his congratulations and gratitude to Kiggundu for his exceptional work in revitalizing Nakivubo Stadium.
"First of all, Kiggundu is a young man who was born, I think, when the NRM had come to power, but he is a real NRM by being innovative and knowing that you can get prosperity in Uganda. This is what we have been telling you," Museveni remarked.
Acknowledging Kiggundu's commitment to national development, President Museveni praised his entrepreneurial spirit and determination. "Kiggundu has been able to make things happen and develop his country because he believes in the philosophy of 'yes, we can'," President Museveni emphasized. He further highlighted Kiggundu's swift decision-making ability, stating, "When he came up with this idea, in my bushwar ways of doing things, I quickly understood him because we bushwar fighters don’t take long to understand things. If you take a long time to make a decision, you die."
Hon. Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Sports, also commended Ham Kiggundu for his contribution to sports infrastructure development.
"The government allocates Shs 70 billion to sports each financial year. I want to thank Ham Kiggundu for helping us have this asset ready for work," Ogwang stated.
Expressing his gratitude to President Museveni for his support, Kiggundu emphasized the importance of collective effort in national development.
"I take it as an obligation as a Ugandan that it is my responsibility to develop myself and my country and do it collectively. This is a direct reflection of your effort and struggle. The prevailing circumstances created by the current NRM regime are the main reasons why an ordinary man like me can undertake such a project. I pray that other Ugandans can follow suit," Kiggundu remarked.
The refurbished Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium stands as a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in driving national development. With state-of-the-art facilities, the stadium promises to be a hub for sports and recreational activities, contributing significantly to the promotion of sports in Uganda.
The recent facelift of this multi-purpose stadium in Kampala was in preparation to host AFCON 2027 and CHAN 2024. The stadium had a capacity of 30,000 people, after the 2013 renovations. However, upon full completion of the renovations started in 2017, the stadium was commissioned yesterday with a total seating capacity of 20,000 people.
