By KCCA Football Club’s ambitious plans for the VIP stand at the MTN Omondi Stadium in Lugogo have become a tale of persistent setbacks, logistical hurdles, and unexpected scheduling conflicts. Once touted as a hallmark of modern stadium design, the project, which began in 2021, remains incomplete, leaving fans and stakeholders questioning whether football and construction can coexist at the same venue.
Initially slated for completion in 2023, the timeline has been repeatedly pushed, with the latest assurance from KCCA FC Chairman Eng. Andrew Serunjogi Mukiibi targeting December 2024. However, February 2025 has arrived, and the stand is still unfinished. KCCA CEO Anisha Muhoozi has shed light on the complexities behind the delays, painting a picture of a project grappling with challenges both expected and unforeseen.
Design Adjustments and Limited Space
At the heart of the delays lies the need for design modifications. “Construction is very tricky,” Muhoozi admitted during an exclusive interview with NBS Sport. “You project something, but then you encounter challenges along the way. When building on a plan and realizing it won’t work, you have to make tweaks.”
The biggest obstacle currently is installing the roof. According to Muhoozi, this requires a large crane, but the cramped surroundings of the stadium present a significant challenge. The club initially planned to use the pitch for the construction process. However, with the Uganda Premier League resuming next week, this option is no longer viable.
Football Fixtures Clash with Construction
KCCA FC’s home games at the MTN Omondi Stadium have created an unavoidable clash. Hosting NEC on February 13 and Vipers SC on February 16 leaves little room to proceed with construction work. “We are still going back and forth to see how best we can work around the fixtures,” Muhoozi stated, hinting at the club’s delicate balancing act between meeting its competitive obligations and pushing forward with the construction.
CHAN Postponement: A Disruptive Curveball
Another unexpected twist came from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, originally scheduled for February but now postponed to August. The delay derailed the club’s construction plans, which had hinged on the Uganda Premier League taking a break for the tournament. “We had to reorganize ourselves, and that caught us off guard,” Muhoozi admitted.
A Stubborn Commitment to Home Turf
Despite the ongoing challenges, relocating matches to another venue is not on the table. Muhoozi emphasized the limited availability of stadiums in Uganda that meet the required standards, stating, “A change in home ground may be a bit of a challenge because there are not so many stadiums in the country that can host games sufficiently.”
A History of Delays
The VIP stand’s construction, under Sarjan Construction, has been a story of missed deadlines. Challenges with funding approvals and logistical bottlenecks have continuously shifted the timeline. Even after commissioning the second phase of construction in February 2024, progress has lagged behind expectations.
As the second half of the Uganda Premier League kicks off, the future of the MTN Omondi Stadium’s VIP stand hangs in the balance. While the club remains committed to completing the project, the struggle to juggle football and construction reflects the larger challenge of infrastructural development in Uganda’s sporting landscape. For now, the VIP stand remains a work in progress, both physically and symbolically.
