Kitara FC Forced to Move Home Matches After Butema Fails FUFA Approval

Kitara FC will begin their Uganda Premier League (UPL) campaign at the newly constructed Hoima City Stadium after their primary home ground, Royals Park Butema, failed to meet the standards required by the FUFA Licensing Committee.

The Uganda Cup champions had initially expected to remain at their traditional home before eventually taking over management of facilities at Hoima City Stadium after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, with Royals Park Butema not included among the approved venues for the start of the new season, Kitara have been forced to make an earlier-than-expected switch.

Wasswa Bbosa's side will now use the modern stadium for their home fixtures while work continues to bring Butema up to the required licensing standards.

Kitara's relocation follows the failure of Royals Park Butema to make the list of ten stadiums cleared to host matches at the beginning of the new UPL season.

The club therefore had to secure an immediate alternative venue, with Hoima City Stadium emerging as the natural solution due to its location and Kitara's growing connection with the facility.

The move means Bbosa and his players will have a new home base as they look to build on their recent success and mount another strong challenge during the campaign.

Before making their first league appearance at Hoima City Stadium, Kitara will open their UPL campaign with an away fixture against SC Villa.

The match is scheduled for August 28 at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku, where the Royals will begin their quest for a successful new season.

Their first planned home league fixture against Mbarara City FC has, however, been postponed because of the club's upcoming continental commitments.

Kitara's first competitive appearance at their temporary home will come under unusual circumstances, with the club officially listed as the away side.

Their CAF Confederation Cup opponents, Mogadishu City Club of Somalia, have selected Hoima City Stadium to host both legs of their first-round preliminary tie because of the lack of a CAF-approved venue in Somalia.

The first leg is scheduled to be played at the stadium on Sunday, August 6, with Kitara listed as the away team despite playing at the venue they will use for their domestic home matches.

The return fixture will take place at the same stadium a week later, with the Ugandan side then taking their turn as the designated hosts.

The arrangement will give Kitara an opportunity to become even more familiar with their new surroundings before their domestic home programme gets underway.

With the Mbarara City fixture postponed, Kitara's first UPL match at Hoima City Stadium is now expected to come on October 7 against newly promoted Kigezi Homeboyz FC.

The match will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the club at the stadium as they wait for Royals Park Butema to meet the necessary requirements.

Kitara will also not have Hoima City Stadium entirely to themselves, with fellow UPL side Blacks Power FC set to share the venue during the season.

Despite the early relocation, Hoima City Stadium will not be completely unfamiliar territory for Kitara's players.

The club has already played at the venue twice, enjoying positive results on both occasions. Kitara defeated KCCA FC 1-0 in a friendly during the stadium's official opening before later recording an emphatic 4-0 victory over Buhimba United Saints in a league fixture.

Those previous outings could provide the Royals with an early sense of confidence as they prepare to turn Hoima City Stadium into their temporary home while they wait for the situation at Butema to be resolved.