The government has extended the deadline for the rehabilitation of Mandela National stadium, Namboole to November 2023.
The Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, said upon request by the project’s main contractor, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Engineering Brigade, she allowed the extension from the initial completion date of August 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023.
According to the First Lady, the renovation plan is extensive and incorporates numerous critical upgrades to the stadium which include; the integration of a state-of-the-art ticketing and access control system, installation of solar lighting to mitigate utility costs, and establishment of an efficient drainage and irrigation system.
The projects further involves the creation of a 4.2km perimeter wall along with the refurbishment and elevation of the Namboole stadium and hotel to match international standards.
In light of these significant undertakings, she approved an extension to allow the intervention efforts.
She revealed that according to a detailed status report for the Shs97 billion project, it is advancing in line with FIFA’s standards.
“As we eagerly anticipate our next visit in November, we look forward to witnessing the fully revitalized stadium. Moreover, I wish to stress the indispensable role of regular maintenance planning in preserving the integrity of government structures like the Mandela National Stadium. My gratitude goes out to the UPDF Engineering Brigade for their outstanding work in overhauling the stadium. Their achievements underscore the need for continued investment in our Technical Institutes, nurturing domestic talent and reducing our reliance on foreign companies,” she said.