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Ogwang has underlined that the Namboole pitch will be out of bounds for anything besides football or rugby once the renovation works are done.
With works on the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole in the final stages, Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang has laid a number of guidelines that will have to be adhered to once it gets opened.
Ogwang has underlined that the Namboole pitch will be out of bounds for anything besides football or rugby once the renovation works are done.
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09:31 - 07.12.2023
Sports Minister Ogwang confirms when Namboole Stadium will be opened
This makes it the fourth deadline after initial failures to meet the previously set timelines.
The stadium boasts natural grass and risks getting affected with activities such as conferences and concerts, among other social functions.
"I want to put it from today that the pitch, the central nerve of the stadium, which is the pitch, will not be used for any other activities other than sport," Ogwang told the media.
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"And I'm going to take it up with the board that whether you're giving out the stadium for hire or otherwise, nobody should attempt to interfere with the pitch."
He further reasoned that getting the FIFA-conforming natural turf had been tiring and that he will protect it.
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11:41 - 08.12.2023
Kitara coach Brian Ssenyondo 'congratulates' referee after defeat to Vipers
And in the post-match press conference, Ssenyondo who had initially desisted from commenting about the referees, was later forced into a 'tactical' attack.
"Because I know the amount of work which has been done on that pitch. That pitch has been worked on international standards, both inside and outside," Ogwang said.
"We're banning any other activities from the pitch; it will not be used other than the sport of football and rugby."
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10:34 - 08.12.2023
Vipers confirms suffering two injuries in the win over Kitara
Ssentamu has played all but one of the Vipers' UPL games this season, while Lumala has featured in all ten so far.
The ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM), where Ogwang is a member, has in the past held conferences at the Namboole pitch, but the latter insists they, too, have banned.
"Including my party NRM, we always use Namboole for the National Delegates Conference, but I want to confirm that the pitch will not be for use."
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"I have a 40,000 seater which is open; a running track is okay and can be used by the pitch will not," Ogwang summed.
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12:13 - 01.12.2023
Sports Minister Peter Ogwang on why the She Cranes withdrew from the Africa Netball Championship
Ogwang reasoned that Malawi and South Africa's decision to withdraw fuelled Uganda's pulling out.
The Minister also revealed that work on the stadium is almost complete, confirming that Uganda's next matches will be hosted there in 2024.
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