The Federation of Uganda Soccer Associations (FUFA) has authorized seven stadiums and rejected eight others following the completion of the stadium evaluation train carried out as a part of the membership licensing course of forward of the 2026/27 season.
The evaluation, carried out by the FUFA Membership Licensing Committee, sought to find out whether or not venues meet the minimal infrastructure, security and operational requirements required to host top-flight soccer matches in Uganda.
In accordance with the findings launched by FUFA, solely seven stadiums met the required benchmarks and have been cleared to host matches through the upcoming marketing campaign. These embrace St. Mary’s Stadium in Kitende, Hamz Stadium-Nakivubo, Mutesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku, Kiira Police Enviornment, Lugazi Stadium, FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru and Rwamwanja Stadium in Kamwenge.
Nevertheless, eight venues did not safe approval after inspectors recognized quite a few shortcomings starting from poor enjoying surfaces to insufficient services for gamers, officers, followers and the media.
The rejected venues are Bugonga Fisheries Floor, MTN Omondi Stadium, Luzira Prisons Floor, Royal’s Park Butema, Kigezi Al-Madina Floor, Mbale Metropolis Stadium, Bombo Barracks Floor and Ebenezer College Floor.
A typical development among the many non-approved stadiums was poor pitch situations, with a number of venues having naked patches and requiring intensive turf upkeep, together with levelling, mowing, rolling and grass planting. Insufficient drainage methods additionally emerged as a significant concern, elevating fears of flooding through the wet season.
The inspection report additional highlighted deficiencies in dressing rooms, technical benches and sanitary services, with many stadiums missing devoted medical rooms for gamers and match officers.
A number of grounds have been additionally discovered wanting when it comes to safety and media infrastructure. Many of the rejected venues don’t have media working areas, whereas some lack perimeter fencing, fan segregation and safe entry routes for gamers from dressing rooms to the sphere of play.
Specific concern was raised over the state of MTN Omondi Stadium, whose synthetic enjoying floor was described as considerably worn out, particularly within the goalmouth areas the place it poses a severe danger of damage to gamers. The stadium’s floodlighting system was additionally discovered to be under the minimal necessities, averaging solely 503 lux.
Royal’s Park Butema, residence to Kitara FC, was faulted for its uneven enjoying floor, insufficient dressing room services and overgrown environment, whereas Bombo Barracks Floor was cited for poor sanitary services, lack of fan separation and the absence of a media working space.
Ebenezer College Floor and Kigezi Al-Madina Floor have been among the many venues with essentially the most important shortcomings, missing fundamental infrastructure reminiscent of dressing rooms, technical benches and perimeter fencing.
The publication of the inspection outcomes now locations strain on the affected golf equipment and stadium house owners to undertake the mandatory renovations and enhancements if they’re to safe approval to host matches through the forthcoming season.
The membership licensing course of kinds a part of FUFA’s broader efforts to enhance soccer infrastructure requirements throughout the nation and make sure that match venues present a secure {and professional} surroundings for all stakeholders.
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