Nakivubo Stadium Ghosts have staged an attack on Ham Enterprises
The never ending battles surrounding the redevelopment of Nakivubo Stadium, have eventually resulted into a Coronavirus-like war. Fortunately, the victims are the protractors.
Kampalans (residents of Kampala City) are saying the ghosts are Park Yard have staged a successful attack on Ham Enterprises. Mbu the war was taken to the Diamond Trust Bank (DTB).
Before Hamis Kiggundu took over Nakivubo Stadium, the adjacent area suffered from fire outbreaks, which left many small business people helpless, poor while others reportedly committed suicide after their overall capital would be consumed by fire.
Thereafter, Hamis Kiggundu emerged a winner under unclear circumstances. In fact, in 2017, the Chairman Board of Trustees, Godfrey Mabirizi resigned.
It was hardly a year since Mabirizi, as head of the new board had been installed by State Sports Minister Charles Bakkabulindi, with Charles Egou as his vice. As fate has, Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi, was dropped, and now ghosts have emerged in the DTB.
Although Mabirizi’s resignation was due to ‘personal reasons’ the circumstances surrounding his resignation pointed to other factors like internal and external interference as well as intimidation and integrity issues.
The battle on who should carry out and complete the next phase of redevelopment around the stadium was one of the factors that popped up soon before tendering in his resignation letter, dated January 16th, 2017.
His resignation immediately followed a letter Nakimuli and Company Advocates acting on behalf of; Futureland Uganda Limited, Bestin Limited and Ntelenfune Enterprises, dated January 12th, 2017 and addressed to him, raised fears of cancellation of their contracts; “it lawfully entered into with our said clients without giving them the right to be heard,” the letter read in part.
“We would like to caution the board that any such termination of the said contracts without due process will open the board and its members in their personal capacity to lawsuits for compensation and recovery of damages, both general and punitive,”the letter read.
In his resignation letter, Mabirizi contended that in his tenure the board had overseen partnering with the private sector for the development and delivery of major infrastructure redevelopment projects that were aimed at ensuring that Nakivubo continues to attract big and best sports and entertainment events.
It mentioned construction of a perimeter wall with over 1000 shops by Ham Enterprises and physical planning for upgrading the stadium to a 25000 seater stadium as some of the projects the board undertook.
But in his letter, he advised the new board chairperson and all board members; “to have the integrity, team work, respect, trust and services expected of a Board of Trustees.”
“I also wish to caution the entire BOT to desist from entertaining internal and external intimidation, selfish interests and intrigue that might compromise the smooth running of the stadium affairs,” Mabirizi cautioned.