“WE NEED A STADIUM, WEST NILE CONTINUES DEMAND FOR SPORTS FACILITY

West Nile Football Association leadership posed for a group photo with the FUFA officials. (ALL PHOTOS BY EREMA)

By Erema George

Arua City

Stakeholders in West Nile have continued to advocate for a balance in the infrastructural development in the sports sector by constantly raising concerns on the lack of good infrastructure in the sub region.

During the recent visit by the Federation of Uganda Football Association FUFA officials to the sub region, stakeholders presented their voices again demanding for a balance in the development of sports across the country.

Muzamil Bondo, a delegate to FUFA representing west Nile on the national assembly lamented that;

“We are saying that West Nile as a very big region, we needed a stadium if not like the one of Hoima and Namboole, at least a mini one to console ourselves but o our dismay, the whole of Nest Nile is being disappointed and there’s no excuse of saying that there’s no land. West Nile has a very vast land that could even build over ten stadiums but why are we neglected?” Bondo lamented

The chairperson of West Nile football Association, Candia Bosco Ariga noted that having physically met the FUFA president, his expectations were high on west Nile benefiting from the infrastructure projects;

The chairperson of West Nile football Association, Candia Bosco Ariga.

“The infrastructure I am aware, most of it has come because of AFCON but we expected that West Nile was at least going to benefit from this project as being one of the greatest footballing regions in Uganda. if we had only one, I don’t think we would be having this conversation here today and now that one has failed and the project has gone but now I’m putting it to you right here that in case in future if there’s any project of that nature, West Nile needs to be considered number one.” Ariga expressed.

In response, Deo Matabazi a member of the FUFA EXCOM who represented the FFUFA president said, the govern has a plan to establish stadium in all the cities across Uganda;

“There’s a legacy project that is going to go across the country. FUFA is committed to continue engaging the government on extending this legacy infrastructure across the whole country. FUFA has penetrated and earmarked the government that all cities across this country according to the proposal FUFA gave government, every city must have a stadium, arua is one of them.

That proposal is in the government and I am sure that at the right time we will be seeing it been realized so remain committed, promote your game, let football be played and together we shall develop this game in our beautiful country,” Matabazi said.

Deo Matabazi a member of the FUFA EXCOM during a meeting with the stakeholders in West Nile recently.

Recently Hon. Muzaid Khemis, the Member of Parliament for Arua central division advocated for government intervention and partnership to improve sports infrastructure in West Nile specifically calling for government bailout collaboration for the privately initiated Arua hill stadium