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How petty fights delayed Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium
Complete. A pavilion constructed using part of the more than Shs600 million at the Akii-Bua stadium. So far, only a pit-latrine and a pavilion have been constructed for interim use. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Ms Mary Kakembo, the Foreign Affairs ministry permanent secretary, said her ministry was requested to initiate relevant discussions with the Chinese ambassador to Kampala, regarding the financing of the project as per directive of the President.
- Preliminary work commenced in February 2016 after government reportedly released more than Shs600m.
The delayed construction of the John Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira District has been blamed on petty fights among leaders in Lango, Daily Monitor has established.
On November 11, 2008, former Lands, Housing and Urban Development minister Omara Atubo brought to the attention of President Museveni the need to build a new stadium in Lira. This was to honour the late John Akii-Bua, the first Ugandan Olympic gold medalist at the games in Munich, Germany.
Mr Atubo told President Museveni that he had met former Ambassador of China, Mr Fan Guijin, in July 2006 and requested him that such project should be implemented by China.
Mr Guijin, indeed, indicated that China would be able to construct the stadium provided a formal request is made by the Uganda government and included in the package of development aid from China to Uganda.
“I have also discussed this matter with Hon Charles Bakabulindi, the Minister of State for Sports, who warmly welcomed the idea and added that the proposal is in line with your manifesto to construct a stadium in every region,” Mr Atubo wrote to the President in his letter of November 11, 2008.
He added: “Uganda has already benefited from China through the construction of the Mandela National Stadium at Namboole. And with that experience and promotion of bilateral relations between the two countries, China would at the request of Uganda assist us in the construction of another stadium upcountry.”
Consequently, President Museveni on March 18, 2010, wrote to then Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, directing him to liaise with Mr Atubo and cause a discussion on the matter with the Chinese government.
Indeed, Mr Lameck Omara Apita, the commissioner of Sports in the Ministry of Education and Sports, informed the Chief Administrative Officer of Lira on April 30, 2010, that government had commenced discussions on a plan for the construction of a new stadium in Lira through support from the Chinese government.
“This is, therefore, to request you in this regard to prepare to take the delegation on a tour of the proposed site for the district stadium,” Mr Omara wrote to the accounting officer of Lira on behalf of the education and Sports permanent secretary.
On August 6, 2010, Mr Atubo informed the then minister for General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ms Janet Mukwaya, that the land for the implementation of the project measuring approximately 110 acres had been secured.
Ms Mary Kakembo, the Foreign Affairs ministry permanent secretary, said her ministry was requested to initiate relevant discussions with the Chinese ambassador to Kampala, regarding the financing of the project as per directive of the President.
However, she indicated in her letter dated September 16, 2010, to the Lands ministry permanent secretary that the relevant documents to aid the discussion were missing.
“This is, therefore, to inform [you] that the two said documents were not received: background to project proposal for construction of Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira by China and draft project proposal for construction of Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira by China, developed by the Ministry of Education and Sports,” she said.
Around that period, everything seemingly went on well not until petty bickering started tearing Lango apart.
In 2011 general election, Mr Atubo sought re-election as the Member of Parliament for Otuke County in Otuke District but lost his seat to Mr Jacinto Ogwal of Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). When Mr Atubo lost his parliamentary seat and was eventually thrown out of Cabinet, those with political powers to follow up the matter started bickering over petty issues, forgetting about the project.
Preliminary work commenced in February 2016 after government reportedly released more than Shs600m.
The money was part of the funds needed for carrying out needs assessment, fencing off the project land, opening access roads, levelling and planting grass and trees on the field for interim use.
