KAMPALA – After years of extensive renovations, the historic Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, now known as Hamz Stadium, reopened its doors to the public on Saturday in a grand celebration that left city revellers in awe. The grand opening of the Hamz Stadium Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds attracted several bigwigs from the government, city tycoons, sports enthusiasts, and leading entertainers.
Among the notable guests for the day were former Vice President of Uganda, Hon Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, FUFA President Moses Magogo, Minister for Kampala, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo (who also doubles as the Chief Muzzukulu and Manager of ONC in Kyambogo), NRM Secretariat Officials, and other dignitaries.
The event also saw a long list of city businessmen in attendance, including Kwagalana Group Chairman, Mr Godfrey Kirumira, Mandela Group Chairman, Mr Umar Mandela, and John Bosco Muwonge, among others, who joined Ham on the day.
The grand opening kicked off in the afternoon with a sporting schedule which saw KIU Titans and JT Jaguars become the first basketball teams to face off on the Nakivubo court, with the Titans emerging victorious in a 51:49 result. In the first of two football test matches, URA beat fellow Uganda Premier League (UPL) side Kitara 3-0, while newly crowned league champions Villa edged Express 1-0 in the second match, played under the stadium’s floodlights.
The winning teams in each match walked away with a hefty prize of UGX 10 million, while the losing teams received UGX 5 million for their participation. The man of the match in each game was awarded an additional UGX 1 million, totaling UGX 32 million in prize money.
In the night’s kickboxing match at the stadium’s Boxing Arena, Umar Semata beat Moses Golola in what was a dominant performance from Semata as Golola struggled to catch up with his pace right from kickoff.
The event was earmarked with performances from renowned artists such as Bebe Cool, Eddy Kenzo, Sheebah Karungi, Spice Diana, Gravity Omutujju, David Lutalo, Fik Fameica, Rema Namakula, and Alien Skin, among others.
Formerly Nakivubo Stadium, Hamz Stadium was established in 1926 on land donated by Daudi Chwa II, the then Kabaka of Buganda, and has undergone a remarkable transformation. The refurbished facility now boasts an all-seater design, an artificial playing surface, netball courts, a basketball court, a boxing arena, a gym, and VIP executive boxes, among other impressive features.
The grand reopening of Hamz Stadium marks a new chapter in Uganda’s sports history, promising to be a hub for sports and entertainment in the country.
