Uganda’s biggest club football game will be hosted at Mandela National Stadium on 1st May 2024. The game was initially supposed to be held at MTN Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, but has been rescheduled to Namboole.
FUFA and the Uganda Premier League confirmed this at a press conference held at FUFA House Mengo.
Two games will be played at Mandela National Stadium as part of the test events to have the facility re-opened for international games.
FUFA Executive Committee Member Rogers Byamukama, who represented the FUFA President, Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim, confirmed this development.
The move is part of the requests made by CAF before the stadium is granted the greenlight to host international games.
Rogers Byamukama
As you are aware, there have been renovation works ongoing at Mandela National Stadium and with the process coming to the final stages, CAF requested that we have a series of test events. We reached out to the League Secretariat who engaged two teams to host their games at Mandela National Stadium. Thankfully, KCCA FC and BUL FC agreed to play against SC Villa and Vipers SC respectively.
Rogers Byamukama – FUFA Execeutive Committee Member
Paul Kabaikaramu, the StarTimes Uganda Premier League Manager confirmed that the federation approached them about this matter and they engaged the host teams KCCA FC and BUL FC.
Paul Kabaikaramu
We are glad that Namboole is coming back and what a moment for us as a League to have two games on the same day there. Both KCCA FC and BUL FC were positive to the idea and we believe the importance of the games will even come with additional attention.
Paul Kabaikaramu – StarTimesUPL Manager
KCCA FC CEO Anisha Shahir Muhoozi confirmed the development and that the club was approached by Uganda Premier League ahead of the changes.
Anisha Shahir Muhoozi
The reason we accepted to change our fixture to Namboole is because of the National cause. The stadium is required to host a series of test matches before it can be passed ready. When we were approached by FUFA and UPL we considered the National cause and accepted their request due to that. We all know Namboole is the home of Ugandan Football and to see that the stadium is returning to functionality is a good step. I therefore call upon all our fans to come in big numbers and we experience the new Mandela National Stadium.
Anisha Shahir Muhoozi – KCCA FC CEO
The entrance fee for the fans will be UGX 10,000 ordinary and UGX 50,000 for VIP and more information about the purchase of tickets will be released on Friday 26th April 2024.
FUFA Deputy CEO, Humphrey Mandu who is also a CAF Safety and Security Officer, issued a safety and security update.
Humphrey Mandu
We have been in touch with the two hosts clubs as far as security and safety is concerned and engaged Uganda Police to see that there will be enough deployment before, during and after the game. I therefore call upon fans to turn up in big numbers
Humphrey Mandu – FUFA Deputy CEO and CAF Safety and security officer
FUFA is working towards making sure CAF grants Mandela National Stadium the green light to host the upcoming 2026 FUFA World Cup Qualifiers. Uganda Cranes will host Botswana and Algeria on 5th and 9th June respectively.
The objective of FUFA is to secure the approval of CAF for Mandela National Stadium to serve as the venue for the forthcoming 2026 FUFA World Cup Qualifiers. The Uganda Cranes will be the hosts of Algeria and Botswana on June 5 and 9, respectively.
The reverse fixture saw KCCA FC win 2-1 at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.
KCCA FC is lie 7th while SC Villa lie 3rd on the StarTimes Uganda Premier League table after 23 games played.
Gui Cungulo battles with SC Villa’s Ssekiganda in the first round
