It has been revealed in a bizzare turn of events that a portion of the already staggering 97 billion shillings allocated for the renovation of Namboole Stadium was mysteriously diverted to compensate a local witch doctor. Clive Kyazze, the General Secretary of the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA), dropped this bombshell, shedding light on the supernatural saga unfolding amidst the construction chaos.
According to Kyazze, the renovation project encountered a spectral obstacle in the form of a ghost (Muswamba) believed to inhabit Namboole Hill, the site upon which Mandela National Stadium now stands. To appease the spectral guardian and ensure smooth progress, a hefty sum of money was earmarked to compensate and relocate the custodian of this ethereal entity, known locally as the Omusambwa.
“Lt Col PS Kidemuka, the UPDF Project Engineer overseeing Namboole Stadium, has corroborated this rather unconventional expenditure,” Kyazze disclosed, adding a surreal twist to the already bewildering tale.
Delving deeper into the supernatural narrative, Kyazze speculated on the uncertain fate of the ghostly guardian once construction concludes. “Every ghost (Musambwa) has a custodian. With the relocation of Namboole’s custodian, it remains to be seen whether they will return post-construction,” he mused, inviting speculation on the spiritual repercussions of this otherworldly transaction.
Meanwhile, amidst the mystical musings, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among Magogo, accompanied by State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang, embarked on an inspection of the ongoing renovation works at Mandela National Stadium. Joined by selected legislators and FUFA officials, they embarked on a guided tour led by contractors from the UPDF Engineering Brigade, navigating both physical and metaphysical challenges in their quest for stadium salvation.
The saga of Namboole Stadium’s renovation has been a recurring theme in parliamentary sessions, with delays plaguing the project despite the hefty allocation of funds. Minister Peter Ogwang cited the outstanding payment of 17 billion shillings as the primary cause of the delays, conveniently shifting the blame to financial bureaucracy.
As the clock ticks down to Uganda Cranes’ next World Cup qualifiers, the stadium’s unpreparedness is looming large. CAF’s refusal to approve Namboole as a venue due to various infrastructural deficiencies has added insult to injury, highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
Despite being constructed over two decades ago, Namboole Stadium has languished without significant upgrades, failing to meet international standards set by FIFA and CAF. The sorry state of the facility has forced Uganda to play its home matches abroad, a humiliating blow to the nation’s footballing pride.
In a cruel twist of fate, Uganda’s dreams of hosting prestigious tournaments on home soil have been dashed, relegated to mere spectators in their own footballing journey. The recent defeat to Algeria on foreign turf served as a bitter reminder of the uphill battle faced by the Cranes, compounded by the farcical mismanagement of stadium renovation funds.
