Government has released 800 million shillings for the construction of Buhinga Stadium in Fort Portal.
The release of the funds follows several meetings that have been held since the beginning of this year between Kabarole district officials led Juma Nyende, the Chief Administrative Officer, and Chris Kassami, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
For more than five years, the district has been soliciting for funds to construct the stadium, but in vain. Part of the money worth 35 million that had been raised in 2009, was diverted to pay district debts.
Currently, the stadium which has hosted several national and regional soccer tournaments like the East African Secondary School games, Copa Coca Cola football tournament and Zone XI soccer tournament among others, is in an appalling state, which has been an embarrassment to the district.
There are no sufficient toilets, shelter, changing rooms and even shades under which officials can sit with spectators. There is no perimeter wall, leaving the stadium to be turned into grazing ground for cows and goats. When it rains, some football matches have to be postponed because the surface of the pitch becomes muddy and it floods.
The stadium is also sometimes used as a multi-function venue and the pitch gets damaged because besides football, it hosts concerts and rallies.
According to the plan seen by Uganda Radio Network, a perimeter wall will be constructed; the stadium will be a 30,000 seater with a pavilion, dressing rooms and more toilets.
Teopista Tumuhairwe, the Kabarole district sports officer, says that construction of the stadium will start before the end of this year.
Tumuhairwe says that since the money from the government isn’t enough, the district is designing a proposal that would be sold out to other partners to help finance the construction of the stadium.
She however refused to disclose how much is required to construct the stadium.
Michael Wandera, the Chairman Kabarole district football association who is also FUFA delegate for the district, welcomes the construction of the stadium. He says that once completed, clubs will be able to generate their own revenue through games.
He also says that through the games, the district will also be able to raise money to fund other sports activities.
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Once construction has started, Boma, Bukwali and St. Leos’ College playgrounds will be used as alternative venues for sports activities.
