Opposition Members of Parliament are urging for full transparency regarding the Lugogo Cricket Oval Stadium agreement amid concerns over past instances where public land was allocated to investors, but projects failed to materialize.
Their main concern is the need for clarity on the government's commitment to redevelop the stadium to prevent potential land disputes in the future. Kayemba Ssolo, MP for Bukomansimbi South, cited examples of similar situations where public land was allocated to investors, but the intended projects did not come to fruition. Notable cases include the UBC land in Kololo, now up for sale after being taken over by Aya Group, and the displacement of Shimoni Demonstration School, replaced by Kingdom Mall.
Kayemba emphasized the necessity for full disclosure of the agreement between the government and the Turkish Investor before commencing the redevelopment project.
He stated, "While we agree on the need for the redevelopment of the stadium, considering the lack of suitable sports facilities in our country, we have witnessed cases where land given to investors for development ended up being lost."
Hillary Kiyaga, MP for Mawokota North, underlined the government's role in advancing Uganda's sports sector and urged against transferring this responsibility to the private sector. He emphasized that "we cannot develop the sports sector if the training grounds, which are crucial for its advancement, are given away," emphasizing the government's significant role in investing in the sports industry.
Joyce Bagala, the Woman MP for Mityana district, sought an update from the government regarding the development of Aki-Bua Stadium in Lira, which was part of Uganda's bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Richard Lumu, MP for Mityana South, cautioned the government to be vigilant against speculators posing as investors, drawing parallels with previous cases like Aya Hotel and Lugogo Cricket Oval.
Lumu noted, "We are concerned about the future of the stadium because we lack proper agreements between the government and the investor. It’s important to note that there are speculators in this country."
The government recently announced plans to transform Lugogo Cricket Oval into a state-of-the-art Multipurpose Sports Complex, featuring various amenities. Once completed, this facility will greatly enhance Uganda's sports infrastructure, addressing the need for better venues and potentially attracting international events.
Currently, the deteriorating MTN Indoor Arena serves as the primary venue for international tournaments, and previous efforts by Makerere University to construct an indoor arena remain incomplete. This lack of a suitable venue has caused Uganda to miss out on hosting major events, including the 2023 Africa Netball Championship, despite securing the bid.
