Despite the effort being made by UPDF engineers to ensure the facility is ready, a highly placed source in the university, said they may present an incomplete structure for the 3rd edition of the World University Netball championships given the remaining time.
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6 days to go: Status of the World University Netball Facility under construction at Makerere University
The Uganda People's Defense Forces-UPDF Brigade is working round the clock to complete the Makerere university indoor stadium ahead of the World University Netball Championships next week.
Our reporter visited the construction site on Tuesday and found a heap of brand new iron sheets had arrived in preparation for the roofing. URN saw an ugly skeleton of steel beams and prefabricated slabs surrounded by a swarm of men working to beat the deadline.
The UPDF engineering brigade is fighting against time to ensure the facility designed to be the showpiece of the 2018 World University Netball is ready for kick-off on Monday next week. The games will run between September 17 and 21, 2018.
Despite the effort being made by UPDF engineers to ensure the facility is ready, a highly placed source in the university, said they may present an incomplete structure for the 3rd edition of the World University Netball championships given the remaining time.
"Only if we had like one month to the games. But I am not worried. We are hosting. Just know Uganda is hosting through its multiple structures," the source told URN on condition of anonymity. Adding that, “"We have been briefed that parts of the components from the original design may be left out.”
The construction of what is meant to be a state of the art indoor facility has been dogged by delays and controversy. Eight teams have already confirmed their participation in the championship including hosts Uganda, USA, Singapore, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
Some of the teams are expected to jet into the country by the end of this week. USA is scheduled to arrive on Friday September 14 alongside the reigning World University Netball Champions South Africa's Spar Proteas.
The Ugandan team is undergoing residential training at the MTN Arena in Lugogo and Ndejje University. Uganda completed fourth in the last edition after being beaten to bronze by Australia.
The Association of Uganda University Sports (AUUS) in conjunction with Makerere University and the support of several stakeholders won the bid to host the 3rd World University Netball Championships 2018 last year.
Davidson Ndyabahika
Freelancer