Hamz Stadium – stadium description

What was the former Nakivubo Stadium like?

The former Nakivubo Stadium was built back in the days of the British colony, on land that was donated by the then Kabaka (king) of Buganda, Daudi Cwa II, and opened on April 1, 1926. Over the years, the facility, which was located in the center of the country's capital Kampala, served as Uganda's most important stadium: the national football team has played there, league matches were held, and the Uganda Football Association once had its headquarters here.

In 1954 the stadium was upgraded and named after Ugandan soldiers who fought on the side of the British during World War II (Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds). Most commonly, however, the facility was simply called Nakivubo Stadium.

After Uganda's new National Stadium was built in the late 20th century, Nakivubo Stadium lost its significance. It also increasingly began to suffer from poor technical condition, and besides, the facility presented a rather low standard.

How was the new Nakivubo Stadium built?

Businessman Hamis Kiggundu and his company Ham Enterprises were interested in investing in Nakivubo Stadium. Since the facility was conveniently located in the city center, and a market had been operating on the grounds surrounding the stadium for three decades, he decided to turn it into a shopping center (Ham Shopping Grounds), which was built in 2013-2014. The buildings of the shopping center were erected behind the south and west stands of the stadium.

In 2015 Hamis Kiggundu reached an agreement with the authorities and leased the stadium for a period of 49 years. The businessman undertook to carry out a complete renovation of the well-deserved stadium, and behind the eastern and northern stands he was able to build more shopping center facilities, which thus surrounded the stadium all around.

When was the new Nakivubo Stadium built?

In early 2017, the old stadium was demolished and construction of a new stadium, larger and more modern than its predecessor, began in its place. At the same time, construction of further shopping center buildings also began.

The design of the new stadium was done by Christopher Omar, and the main contractor was ROKO Construction Company. The shopping mall was erected fairly quickly, but the stadium, which was originally scheduled to be ready as early as 2020, saw a significant delay, to which the COVID-19 pandemic also contributed.

When was the new Nakivubo Stadium inaugurated?

The new Nakivubo Stadium was finally completed in late 2023 and early 2024, and was officially inaugurated by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on April 25, 2024. The new stadium was given the commercial name Hamz Stadium.

However, the venue's lavish inauguration ceremony took place on June 1, 2024, at which time the stadium hosted two friendly matches (URA FC – Kitara FC 3–0 and SC Villa – Express FC 1–0), in addition to concerts, basketball games, boxing and kickboxing bouts and a fireworks show.

What does the new Nakivubo Stadium look like?

Although built from the ground up, the new Nakivubo Stadium has a somewhat chaotic form. Despite its oval shape, inside the stands there was not enough room for a running track, and empty spaces on the curves were used for... basketball and netball courts. In addition, the stands are missing on the northwest corner, and lighting masts are set up in front of the auditorium.

The football field has artificial turf, and the capacity of the stadium is 35,000 spectators. Along the pitch, the stands are divided into two levels, with boxes between them. Under the stands there is also a gym and facilities for combat sports.

From the outside, the stadium is surrounded by the buildings of the commercial center Ham Shopping Grounds. The facility is located in the very center of Kampala, right next to a large bus station (Kisenyi Bus Terminal).

What is the role of the new Nakivubo Stadium?

The rebuilt Nakivubo Stadium has regained its role as one of the country's leading sports venues. Although the main stadium in Uganda remains the Mandela National Stadium, Nakivubo Stadium serves a complementary role, and can be used for league matches and occasionally for national team matches.

In December 2024, the stadium hosted most of the matches (including the final) of the CECAFA Under-17 Championship, which was also a qualifier for the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. It is possible that the stadium will also be one of the venues for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be held in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.