Nakivubo Stadium gets new look

 

Nakivubo Stadium gets new look

KAMPALA. Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium has for decades been known as a sports arena .But with the changing face of its surroundings  , the stadium is slowly but surely becoming a business hub of some sort given the mushrooming shops erected around its perimeter wall. The latest structure to change the face of Nakivubo is the perimeter complex named Ham Shopping Ground  .

This shopping arcade ,which has  200 shops ,has been constructed through a public private partnership between city businessman Hamis Kiggundu of Ham enterprises Limited and the stadium management. The arcade ,which is nearing completion is directly facing the controversial Park Yard Market and some the vendors at the market have already been affected by this development .

Before traders turned it into a market, the yard served as a stadium car parking yard and there have been several attempts to evict  them from the area. Nakivubo War Memorial  Stadium  treasurer says they want the entire place developed –including the part currently  housing the market  to a standard preferred by Kampala Capital City Authority.

“We know development comes with negatives and positives. But traders should appreciate – we only want to have the place developed and organised to match the evolving image of Kampala. It will also be a revenue source for the stadium sustainability,” said Hajjat Minsa Kabanda.

Part of the market has been cleared to create access bridges to the new shops, leaving a number of traders aggrieved.

“It’s an impressive development, but that’s not my concern when I am losing my livelihood source at the cost of development,” responded Mr John Sserunkuma, a trader at Parkyard market when this reporter sought his opinion .

However, Hajjat  Kabanda said all vendors  will move to pave way for an expanded development of the whole parkyard.

“Its good work so far. We are satisfied he [developer] impressively put up a magnificent structure . Currently, we are finding relocation alternatives for all vendors  at park yard market because the market is not gazetted,” she said yesterday.

KCCA had earlier indicated the park yard market was illegal because it was not on plan and assured vendors  that there are no plans to legalise it, but it (KCCA) has consistently denied involvement in threats to evict traders.

“Parkyard is an illegal market over which we exercise no control,” the letter from KCCA  dated February 21, 2012 reads in part.

But early this month, Kampala Resident City Commissioner, Ms Aisha Kabanda told the vendors  in a meeting that they should prepare to relocate if government finds a suitable palace for them.

Opportunities for vendors

According to Hajjat Kabanda, vendors  at the market will be given first priority for stall/shops in the new structures. She said the mall has three floors  with shops going  for Shs1.2m, Shs0.5-0.8m and Shs0.3m. she noted that all stalls at the second floor are specifically for traders who  will be  affected in the eviction exercise. On southern wing of the stadium, a large chunk of the stadium has also been turned into parks for vehicles. During the day almost a hundred cars are parked measures .Near the main entrance ,there is also  a bus terminal which is privately managed .

With all these non sports activities ,it remains to be seen whether the world soccer governing body FIFA will still recognize Nakivubo as a viable facility for international games .

Background Nakivubo Park Yard Market started in mid 1990s and more than 30,000 traders are currently doing businesses there ranging from second hard clothes, shoes , fruits and other perishable food products.

As the name suggests, this open space used to serve as a parking lot for Nakivubo Stadium but when vendors increased in the adjacent St Balikuddembe Market commonly known as Owino, some chose to erect stalls there to ply their businesses .Although city authorities then collected dues from the vendors, they maintained that the place was not among the gazzetted city markets .