CHAN: Gov’t pays Shs142 million per match day to host matches at Namboole Stadium

The Government of Uganda has been paying $40,000 (about Shs142 million) to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, management for every match day during the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Uganda is co-hosting the tournament with Kenya and Tanzania, a move widely seen as a major rehearsal ahead of the 2027 AFCON, which the three countries will jointly stage.

Today marks the conclusion of the four match days hosted at Namboole, meaning the government will have spent more than Shs568 million on stadium usage alone.

Additionally, Namboole will host one quarter-final fixture before staging the third-place playoff, which will mark the conclusion of CHAN matches at the stadium.

Built in 1997 with a grant from the People’s Republic of China, the stadium is owned by Mandela National Stadium Limited, a public liability company jointly managed by the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

In 2022, the facility was placed under renovation, with the UPDF Engineering Brigade overseeing the first phase of works. This included securing the land and carrying out a series of upgrades such as enhanced floodlighting, improved safety features, and a modernised ticketing system.

Today, Namboole boasts over 240 floodlights generating more than 12,000 lux, upgraded evacuation points, and a new public address system covering both the stadium interior and exterior. The pitch has also been fitted with a hybrid grass system.

Overall, the government has invested more than Shs97 billion in the stadium’s refurbishment