Scores Injured at Kireka in a fight over Namboole Land

On Thursday, during the renovation of Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in Uganda, an unknown number of civilians and three soldiers were injured. The incident was allegedly provoked by suspected encroachers on government land who attacked Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) engineers with machetes, stones, arrows, and bows.

The group was reportedly under the leadership of Godfrey Kawooya, the Vice Chairman of Kireka Zone B, and another person identified only as Masada of Katooke Zone. The confrontation lasted for three hours, and chaos ensued despite the security detail shooting three warning shots to disperse the group.

UPDF reported that the engineers were surveying part of the land hosting the Namboole Stadium Complex to begin laying culverts and block manholes.

The government commenced the renovation of the stadium last year, including the construction of a perimeter wall to meet the requirements of CAF and to protect the land from encroachers. Residents of Kireka Zone B have been apprehensive about their eviction, with UPDF stating that the residents had until February 15, 2023, to vacate the premises.

Notices to vacate the premises were issued to the encroachers several times by concerned authorities, and Flight Auctioneers was hired to forcibly evict the defiant encroachers.

UPDF reiterated that they would not be deterred by acts of provocation from illegal encroachers, adding that they had increased security at the stadium and urged citizens to respect public property to prevent injury and loss of life.

In 2019, the managing director of the stadium, Jamil Sewanyana, petitioned the Justice Catherine Bamugemereire-led land commission to help them evict individuals and companies that had allegedly grabbed half of the 120 acres of land belonging to Namboole.

The government bought 103 plots on Kyadondo Block 232 and Block 234 to build a stadium, and several people were compensated, but many denied being compensated. The renovation works on the stadium will cover the dressing rooms, playing surface, running track, installation of desks and air conditioners in the media and VIP sections, seats in the general public stands, and upgrading floodlights as directed by CAF.

Uganda Cranes, the national team, used to play their home games at Namboole and currently rely on St. Mary’s Stadium Kitende, a privately-owned facility, to host international games.

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