Prime
Lugogo sports ground sold
A view of the fenced-off Lugogo sports ground that investors want to develop. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
Soon there could be no open spaces in the city after another important recreation ground was cordoned off to allow a private developer start work.
The ground located just opposite Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC) stadium and adjacent to the one run by Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) in Lugogo was cordoned off with iron sheets a fortnight ago. Super League side Water FC, Naguru youths and corporate teams have been using the ground.
All five grounds in the Lugogo sports hub, including Kampala Rugby Union Football Club (KRUFC) and Kyadondo Rugby Club, are gazetted recreation grounds by KCCA.
“Registered Trustees of Patidar Samaj are the private developers that have taken over the ground,” KCCA Director of Physical Planning George Agaba told Sunday Monitor at City Hall yesterday.
“KCC [the defunct city authority] had allocated Patidar a piece of land on the northern bypass but another company, whose name I can’t recall, took it over, meaning it had been allocated to two companies,” Mr Agaba said.
He added: “So the other company sued KCC and both parties agreed that we settle this out of court. A decision was reached that an alternative land be given to Patidar and Kampala District Land Board gave them the said plot.”
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, also KCCA FC supporter, condemned the action, saying he would table the matter in the next Authority meeting.
“Even if it is two parties settling out of court, do you give out our sports ground?” Mr Lukwago said, “It’s really absurd.”
“How sure are we then that tomorrow it will not be Nakivubo? If you can’t find another free land, then refund their money. I requested for information regarding that ground and they have been playing hide and seek,” he said.
Asked what kind of development Patidar will put up at the grounds, Mr Agaba said: “Unfortunately, sports lose out because whatever development will be put there, it will be commercial.”
In 2007, some officials under KCC parceled out the first part of the grounds to a private investor, Valley View Estates. UMA officials have since protested the sale of the entire grounds, saying they could have been reserved since they serve as a car park for exhibitors and visitors during their annual trade fair.
The latest development comes months after KRUFC sold 3.5 acres of land housing both the club house and the rugby pitch on Plot 11 Naguru Road and Plot 1 Sports Lane to Solution and Conveyors Company Limited at $1.6m (Shs4.5 billion).
But KRUFC apparently acquired an 11-acre private land in Luzira from the proceeds on which they will develop new premises.
The other ground opposite Kyadondo Rugby Club, which is used by Proline and a host of other clubs for training, is now left with no greens on its turf as it was the car park during the just-ended trade show.
