ILLIFURA MINI STADIUM CONSTRUCTION STALLS AS GOVERNMENT DELAYS SIGNING FINANCING AGREEMENT

By Hillary King Obiza and Morish Dramadri

Arua city

The construction of the planned mini stadium at Ayivu division headquarters Onduparaka in Arua city has failed to commence following delays in signing of financing agreement between Uganda government and French development agency.

In 2022/23 financial year, Ayivu division with funding from French Development Agency planned to put up a 20,000 seater mini stadium at Ilifura playground but this has not yet materialized.

Emmanuel Angudubo the Ayivu division town clerk revealed that this is due to the delay in the signing of the financing agreement. “The mini stadium project was expected to be financed by the French Development Agency, mini stadium, the market, the road connecting from Ediofe up to here and also greening. those are donors they are yet to sign financing agreement with the government of Uganda but before they start this project they were expected therefore to sign the financing agreement with the ministry of finance, so that is what they are concluding,” Angudubo supposed.

Ayivu division has been on the map for the local talent especially in football due the presence of a private stadium at Onduparaka and this mini stadium is expected to give a boost to sports talents within the division.

Emmanuel Angudubo however guaranteed that they are ready to welcome the project though with delays. “For us as division we are ready to receive the project because we have the land, It was actually among the project which was ranked number one, because it has less risk the land is there, the potential to use it is there, So all other factors indicate that if this stadium is constructed here it is going to be viable, so we are just waiting for them to conclude with the financing agreement,” Angudubo said.

Other components of the project include construction of the road from Ediofe to Onduparaka, the market, and environmental greening.