The proposed multipurpose sports complex is expected to have a main indoor arena with a capacity of 15,000 spectators, an eight-lane swimming pool, a multi-purpose standard pitch, a 60-person athlete hostel, accommodation with 120 rooms, a showroom, a shopping center, and a top-tier fitness gym, among other amenities.
The government has resolved
to transform the historic Lugogo Cricket Oval into a state-of-the-art
Multipurpose Sports Complex. On Tuesday night, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni welcomed a proposal from Summa, a Turkish construction company, to
construct a modern multipurpose indoor sports complex at Lugogo in Kampala to
further develop sports in Uganda.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting involving President Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet
Museveni, Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, Commissioner of
Physical Education and Sports, Rev. Duncan Mugumya, and representatives from
Summa Construction Company among others.
The proposed multipurpose sports complex is
expected to have a main indoor arena with a capacity of 15,000 spectators, an
eight-lane swimming pool, a multi-purpose standard pitch, a 60-person athlete hostel,
accommodation with 120 rooms, a showroom, a shopping center, and a top-tier
fitness gym, among other amenities.
Dr. Benard Patrick Ogwel, the General Secretary of the National Council of Sports (NCS), explained that the current MTN Arena, which is used to host indoor games will be renovated. “The existing one will be upgraded from the current 750
seats to 3000, it will be refurbished. What we need now is moving forward, the
facility in Lugogo was built in 1957 which you all know is now condemned,”
Ogwel said.
“What will be affected will be cricket because it
is specialized, and therefore we are going to relocate Cricket Kyambogo.
Kyambogo will be strictly for cricket and it will be properly managed and we
shall develop the facility as a government. We have already had a very good
discussion with Kyambogo and we are soon signing an MOU with Kyambogo,” he
added.
Rev. Can. Duncan Mugumya, the Commissioner of
Physical Education and Sports, agrees that making way for a multipurpose
facility is a positive step for accommodating a wide range of sports
disciplines. “First,
we are taking Cricket to Kyambogo, then the Old Arena will be upgraded, and
even the new one will be built with more facilities. The designs will be
unveiled to the public when we are ready,” Rev. Duncan told URN.
Denis Musaali, the Uganda Cricket Association's
Communications Director, noted that while they haven't received official
communication from the NCS, relocating to Kyambogo is acceptable as it ensures
cricket continues to have a venue in Kampala.
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Once completed, this state-of-the-art facility
will greatly enhance Uganda's sports infrastructure, addressing a longstanding
need for better venues. Currently, Uganda relies primarily on the MTN Indoor
Arena, which is in a deteriorating condition, for international tournaments.
This
development follows earlier efforts to construct an indoor arena by Makerere
University, but completion is still pending. The lack of a suitable venue has
also cost Uganda opportunities to host major events like the 2023 Africa
Netball Championship, despite successfully securing the bid.