Musonye lauds Uganda’s plans to build four stadiums
By NAHASHON MUSUNGUCecafa Secretary general Nicholas Musonye has lauded plans by the Ugandan government to construct four state-of-the-art stadiums.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni made the announcement on Saturday while touring the Western region when he commissioned the ground breaking ceremony of the first stadium to be constructed in Fort Portal town.
Construction of the facility will cost about Sh300 million.
“The public should know that government runs its programmes on the principle of prioritization. For example, while construction of a stadium is cheaper than a road, the latter is more critical for our economic development,” Museveni said.
“However, as we resolve the other infrastructure concerns, government will no doubt gradually invest more in sports facilities,” he added.
STADIUM CONSTRUCTION
President Museveni did not however reveal when these projects will be completed.
Similar stadia will be built in Bunyoro, Ankole and Kigezi, each at an estimated cost of Sh300 million. The stadia come with extras of a tennis court, hotel facility and other hospitality facilities.
Musonye, meanwhile, could not hide his excitement.
“This is the best news I have heard this year. There are similar projects of stadium construction and renovations going on in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Burundi,” he said.
“This is the only way we can improve standards of football in the Cecafa region and start matching the likes of West and North Africa.”
Even though the Uganda national football team is the highest ranked by Fifa in the region, the country currently has the dilapidated Nelson Mandela Stadium as the only world class facility.