In a decisive move, the Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among, has issued a directive for the immediate removal of Pioneer Easy Bus Limited vehicles from the premises of Namboole Stadium. This decision comes after Speaker Anita Among's recent inspection visit to the stadium, where she emphasized the need for the land surrounding Namboole Stadium to be exclusively dedicated to sporting activities.
During her visit, Speaker Among expressed her vision for restoring the stadium's glory stating "If we have a beautiful stadium, we do not want scrap in it." Her remarks underscore the urgency to revitalize Namboole Stadium to meet international standards, which includes clearing the area of any non-sporting activities.
Pioneer Easy Bus, a privately-owned public transport venture, had rented parts of the parking space at Namboole over a decade ago. However, over the years, the parking lot has been transformed into a makeshift junkyard for dozens of failed Chinese-made buses operated by the company.
The presence of these buses has become an inconvenience amidst ongoing efforts to refurbish Namboole Stadium. Speaker Anita Among has expressed concern over the utilization of the stadium's land for non-sporting purposes, calling for thorough investigations into the leasing agreement with Pioneer Buses and demanding clarity on the revenue generated for the government.
"The land that belongs to the stadium should never be used for anything else without resolution," Speaker Among emphasized.
The renovation and upgrade of Namboole Stadium, which began in August 2022, are progressing well and are on track to meet the completion deadline of May 25th, 2024, as assured by Project Engineer Peter Seku. With a budget allocation of Shs97 billion, significant progress has been made, prompting Parliament to direct Finance Minister the Rt. Hon. Amos Lugolobi to release the remaining funds.
Speaker Among's directive signals a commitment to prioritize sporting infrastructure and uphold the integrity of Namboole Stadium as a premier venue for sports activities in Uganda. The removal of Pioneer Easy Bus vehicles marks a significant step towards reclaiming the stadium's space for its intended purpose and ensuring its revitalization for future generations of athletes and sports enthusiasts.
Launched in 2012, the Pioneer buses were welcomed by city residents as they were seen as a long awaited solution to reducing public transport costs and eliminating disorder created by the 14-seaters. Prior to its financial troubles, Pioneer Easy Bus had purchased 100 buses and planned to import more units progressively, until it met the 522 units that it agreed upon with the KCCA.
