Sports minister Peter Ogwang carries Uganda’s hopes

Stadium talk has gripped the nation. Pictures of Mandela National Stadium and Nakivubo Stadium both under renovation, have been repeatedly splashed all over social media for the last week.

Football fans from all walks of life are using them to mock the government and the football federation after the Uganda Cranes played her home AFCON 2023 qualifying fixture with Tanzania away in Egypt. 

Peter Ogwang – state minister for sports – is using the Nambole stadium pictures to tell the government story of the status of the renovations that have been going on for the last three years, while Ham Kiggundu; a private investor and government partner through a PPP arrangement, is using them to boast about his investment. Neither government nor Kiggundu anticipated a backlash when FUFA decided to host Tanzania in Egypt after CAF blacklisted Uganda’s stadiums for being sub-standard. After the 1-0 defeat to Tanzania, there has been an implosion. Ugandans have been bitter with FUFA and dismissive of the government. The football fraternity has argued that Ugandan football has reached an all-time low if ‘away’ grounds are now being used as ‘home’ grounds. There is a conviction that government doesn’t care since they have always talked about more important priorities ahead of sports. This particular school of thought has always been suspicious of the government’s decision to award the renovation of Nakivubo to Kiggundu, who everyone knows has never been a sports enthusiast but rather a pure businessman solely driven by profit-making. 

To his credit, Hon. Ogwang has eaten humble pie and apologized to the nation for the national embarrassment. As a make-good, he has sworn that the first renovation phase of Nambole will be ready by 12 June to host Algeria. He is convinced that the UPDF contractors for the job can deliver as per the deadline. Rarely do we witness cabinet ministers apologizing for costly mistakes in their ministries which is why Hon.Ogwang should be lauded and given the benefit of the doubt. Since he was appointed state minister for sports, he has exhibited a passion for the job and a hands-on approach that has been missing previously. It’s his historic role in pushing a new sports bill in parliament last month though, that elevates him above his predecessors. If it’s assented into law by His Excellency the President of Uganda, the archaic 1964 NCS law will be ripped apart and then Ugandan sports will start to reap the benefits which include increased government investment in the sports sector. This is the demonstration of positive leadership that an emotional sector like sports requires. The honourable should be warned however that he has now put his reputation on the line and he has no choice but to deliver on his June promise. 

The highest CAF and FIFA-ranked East African nation cannot be playing its home games away from home. Beyond the need to fulfill its obligation as both regulators and governors of sports in the country, the government and FUFA also have a responsibility to provide an enabling environment to sports-friendly brands like MTN; which recently signed up with Cranes for nine years. Of what use would it be to MTN; the official Cranes sponsor, if they are denied the opportunity to carry out promotions that connect with their customers here at home due to an absentee sponsored team?  The dream of every national team sponsor is to have opportunities for brand influence. Besides, the hundreds of thousands of new fans to potentially recruit each time the Cranes has a home game would be lost as an opportunity if we have no home games. Finally, with thousands of Ugandan youths aspiring to be national football heroes one day, the proximity to their national team is as important as access to playing fields at the grassroots where they originate. Hon. Ogwang will have to be the busiest minister in the next two months if Uganda’s hopes of qualifying for AFCON 2023 are to remain alive.