Revamped Nakivubo Stadium opens in style

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 HAMZ STADIUM GRAND OPENING 

📍 Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds, Kampala
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 HAVE YOUR SAY 

#NakivuboGrandOpening

Today, all roads are leading to Nakivubo in downtown Kampala for the grand opening of Hamz Stadium.

He will be there. Will you? Or are you there already?

Share your update via the hashtag #NakivuboGrandOpening on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

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📹 WATCH        All is set

Watch as organizers applied finishing touches on the preparations on Friday evening, hours before the grand opening of Hamz Stadium.

All is set now.


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 9:03 AM       Good morning!

It's a fine morning here in Uganda's capital Kampala. And what kind weather to add to the cheer of what promises to be an exciting day as the gates of the new-look Hamz Stadium open for business!

We are sure you have got your ticket — to grant you access to the facility — ready. It's been coming and indeed, the much-awaited day has finally arrived.

For today's grand opening of Hamz Stadium, expect a smorgasbord of sporting activities plus loads of entertainment courtesy of Uganda's finest.

So are you ready to feast? Head down to Nakivubo.

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 9:00 AM       The day has finally arrived!

Finally! The long-awaited grand opening of Hamz Stadium, which is located at the Nakivubo War Memorial Grounds in Kampala, is upon us!

For over a week now, the revamped stadium has been abuzz with musicians — who  will entertain revellers today — shooting promotional videos at the newlook facility and several pre-event press conferences have also been held at the venue.

Today's grand opening menu for sports lovers and revellers is a sumptuous buffet of entertainment, starting with two basketball matches.

The first match at 11am will see KIU Titans battle with JT Jaguars, before Nam Blazers take on UCU Canons on the same court.

In netball, KCCA will face off with Weyonje at the adjacent netball court. Thereafter, NIC will play against Ugandan netball champions NIC. 

Hamz Stadium's strategic location right in the heart of Kampala and its rich history in Ugandan sports will also be reignited when footballing action returns to the facility. 

For today's test matches, URA v Kitara will kick off at 4pm, before one of the historical and big derbies between SC Villa and Express gets under way later at 7pm.

"I believe football is headed in the right direction with such facilities in the middle of the city," said URA coach Alex Isabirye in the buildup. "We are working hard to come up with a beautiful display on Saturday and I am sure people will enjoy it."

Isabirye's opposite, Kitara's Brian Ssenyondo, spoke of his side's excitement over their participation today.

"We are excited to be one of the teams to feature in the opening of Nakivubo. It is marvelous and beautiful and a piece of work well done, thanks to Ham [Hamis Kiggundu]," he said.

"I believe this will be a stimulus to every stakeholder out there who can put up such a facility because such makes the game [football] beautiful. The game will improve with such a facility.

"I welcome Isabirye to the dugout again and I anticipate a tough match. I want to prove to him that I also arrived."

The sporting action will continue with boxing bouts involving two female adversaries: Zahara Nandawula against Flavia Babirye. 

Then on the men's side, Isaac Junior Ssenyange will exchange punches with Abas Sseguya in a ten-round National Superwelterweight title professional fight.

There will also be kickboxing action to enjoy.

Moses Golola and Umar Semata's fight launch press conference ended prematurely on Tuesday when they became too eager, nearly getting into a brawl before reporters.

Their third meeting and first since 2019 — when Golola avenged his loss to Semata — must produce a winner.

And they only have three rounds of three minutes each to settle their beef in the presence of thousands of cheering fans.

"I respect Semata because he has been fighting all over the world, but we are going to rumble on Saturday," said Golola.