Nakivubo among stadiums approved to host AFCON 2027. Businessman Ham reveals why he invested heavily in the sports facility.
Drake Nyamugabwa
Following the announcement by CAF a continental governing sports body that Pamoja bid by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda’s Pamoja bid has won the rights to host the AFCON tournament, Nakivubo Stadium has been listed among the main stadiums to co-host it.
This was revealed by Hamis Kiggundu The CEO of Ham Group of companies on Wednesday 27th September 2023 during an interview while touring the Nakivubo stadium.
Ham said that the stadium where he invested huge sums of money will be ready to host games starting this year, he added all the necessary materials and requirements to host any game both local and international have been met.
The City Businessman expressed gratitude to the sports authorities for choosing to approve Nakivubo Stadium.
“Nakivubo is a world-class standard stadium compared to the likes of Wembley. Before the close of 2023, we shall host some games. Nakivubo has been approved to host the AFCON games in 2027. Am so impressed with CAF, FUFA, and the government for their support and trust in my vision. Reality is we are hosting AFCON” he said
In a statement released on Thursday, President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni congratulated the countries, Kenya and Tanzania for winning the rights to jointly host the 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The President attributed the success to presenting a joint bid and the pooling together of the sports infrastructure like stadiums in Uganda.
“Commonsense showed even the assessors, I am sure, that that Pan-African effort was, logically, the most attractive, apart from any other considerations. We can only get more benefits if we extend this logic to other areas. Also, pooling together the sports infrastructure like stadia, made our bid more attractive. I salute the African sporting Authorities for this logically unimpeachable decision” he said
Businessman Ham added that investing in the stadium is a legacy that other Ugandans should embrace to transform Uganda through the private ability to solve its own challenges.
“We have been proved wrong by reality. The ability to fight challenges is the fact that we are successful. Nakivubo is not merely a stadium but a legacy. If Ugandan Kiggundu can do it, so you can. We can build hospitals and other facilities an obligation to transform and develop Uganda” he narrated.
Why Nakivubo Stadium Investment:
Ham in an interview on Wednesday said what propelled him to heavily invest in the stadium is the fact that he is a sportsman and a businessman, and putting all factors aside he is governed by the principalities of demand and supply, Return on Investments.
“If I invest in a stadium that won't qualify to host big matches, why invest then” he wondered.
He said that big matches like AFCON are of a global nature and expose the country to other factors like bringing along advantages to local businesses not just football, marketing Uganda abroad, and attracting investors for big business deals.
He added that all the money that he is investing in the stadium is from his business earnings, denying allegations that he got support from the government.
“I am grateful to the political blessing from The President of Uganda right from the time I presented my proposal to him way back, but he has never given me any money. All the money invested in the stadium is mine” he said
He called upon Ugandans to harness the spirit of supporting each other in things that cause social transformation and urged the government to strengthen systems that support local investors.
In 2018, Kiggundu entered a deal to redevelop Nakivubo Stadium into a modern and international standard facility.
Nakivubo stadium at curent status
