Kampala, Uganda – The historic Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium, now renamed Hamz Stadium, reopened in a spectacular ceremony that left city revellers captivated after years of extensive renovations
The grand reopening featured a range of sporting events and electrifying performances by top Ugandan entertainers, drawing prominent figures from the government, business community, and sports enthusiasts. Notable attendees included former Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, FUFA President Moses Magogo, Minister for Kampala Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, and Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo, among others.
City businessmen such as Kwagalana Group Chairman Godfrey Kirumira, Mandela Group Chairman Umar Mandela, and John Bosco Muwonge also graced the occasion.
The celebration began in the afternoon with the KIU Titans and JT Jaguars becoming the first basketball teams to compete on the new court, with the Titans securing a narrow 51:49 victory. In football, URA triumphed over Kitara with a 3-0 win, while newly crowned league champions Villa edged out Express 1-0 in a match played under the stadium’s floodlights. Each winning team received UGX 10 million, while the losing teams were awarded UGX 5 million. The man of the match in each game earned an additional UGX 1 million.
The evening featured a kickboxing match where Umar Semata defeated Moses Golola in a dominant performance. Renowned artists such as Bebe Cool, Eddy Kenzo, Sheebah Karungi, and others provided entertainment throughout the event.
Originally established in 1926 on land donated by Daudi Chwa II, the then Kabaka of Buganda, the revamped Hamz Stadium now boasts an all-seater design, artificial playing surface, netball and basketball courts, a boxing arena, a gym, and VIP executive boxes.
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