Uproar As Mbale City Authorities Hire out Stadium For Trade Fair

The decision by the Mbale Industrial Division city authorities to rent out the Mbale City Stadium to host the Eastern Region trade fair has triggered an uproar from a section of leaders, sports officials, and residents. 

Mbale Industrial Division city authorities have rented the facility to M3k3 Trade Show Mobile Business Association and Prime Parties Uganda Limited to host the trade fair, which is slated to run from July 1st to July 10th, 2022. 

However, the decision to hire out the facility whose newly planted grass is growing has not gone down well with several people. Those opposed to the move, say prior to their intervention led by the Mbale City Woman Member of Parliament, Connie Nakayenze Galiwango to replant grass in the stadium, it was in very bad shape.

They argue that allowing the trade fair that is likely to attract huge crowds and thereby destroy the grass, will put their efforts to waste. The protesters have vowed not to allow the trade show to take place within the stadium come July 1st, 2022.

Uthman Mugoya, the Vice President of Mbale Heroes FC  wonders why the City council authorities decided to rent out a stadium whose grass is just growing. “We are warning the Organizers to stay away from the stadium, We shall not sit back and watch when the stadium is being damaged,” he said.  

 Miriam Nambuya, the Mbale City Speaker, and her deputy Abdullah Magambo accuse some of the city council officials of hiring out the stadium, and pocketing the money for their selfish interests. “Some officials are hiring the stadium to host several functions but no accountability for the money. They recently got money from MTN but no one knows where it went yet the stadium lack toilets, water, and electricity." Magambo said.   

 

Abdallah Kayiwa, the Chairperson of Referees in Mbale City, says that the city authorities just looked on when the stadium was in a bad state. He appeals to them to rethink their position on hosting the trade show in the stadium.

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Magidu Buyinza, the Chairperson of the Mbale Football Federation, says that whoever wants to host the trade in the stadium wants to satisfy his own interests and does not feel for sports in the city.  He says that the tradeshow can take place at Mbale Secondary School or Cricket grounds noting that Mbale City stadium is the only sports facility that can host international matches.  

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Connie Nakayenze Galiwango, the Mbale City Woman MP who spearheaded the replanting of grass in the stadium has appealed to the city authorities not to host the tradeshow in the facility. She notes that the move will be an abuse to the people who made efforts to make the stadium green again.   

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Ali Madoi, the Manager of Mbale City Stadium, says that the facility has not had any repairs since 2005 when the then Municipality authorities decided to host trade shows there. According to Madoi, he is never consulted on any matters concerning the running of the facility. He explains he was only contacted by the Mbale City Deputy Town Clerk informing him about the trade fair.

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 Francis Kakoza, one of the organizers of the trade show, says that "no one will stop us from hosting the trade show in the stadium. The City council cleared us. We have injected a lot of money into adverts."  

Muhamood Masaba, Mayor of Mbale Industrial City Division, said since the stadium belongs to the division and they authorized the trade to take place there. "We have authorized the trade show to take place in the stadium. 

No one will stop the show. Our stadium management committee is going to work closely with the organizers to see that everything moves on well” he said.   

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Yusuf Wamara Murami, the Mbale Industrial City Division Finance Committee Chairperson told Uganda Radio Network that no money has been deposited into the stadium account.