The owners of Pioneer Easy Bus company have asked the government for Shs25 billion as compensation to abandon their parking lot at Namboole Stadium.
The company says it obtained a 49-year lease for the use of the land from the Uganda Land Commission. The move follows an order from the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, asking the UPDF Engineering Brigade to remove the broken-down buses from the Namboole parking lot to pave the way for the country to host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in September 2024, and subsequently, the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
On April 12, 2024, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), in an interim inspection report, declared that Uganda’s National Stadium was not ready to host international matches, citing lack of parking space occupied by the buses, incomplete renovation works, among other impediments.
“I want you to have the scrap buses out of Namboole using the legal mechanism. The buses cannot vacate the premises for the contractor to organize the parking area, and that is what is at stake now,” said Among.
However, the State Minister of Sports, Peter Ogwang, says the Pioneer Easy Bus owners owe Namboole Stadium management 157 million shillings for the use of the parking lot.
Speaker Among decided to task the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) to investigate the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) for subleasing land in the stadium to the bus company.
“I want COSASE to take it as a priority to find out how ULC subleased land belonging to another entity without authorization and funds collected as non-tax revenue; and how buses got to Namboole as if it is a parking yard,” she said.
Parliament has so far approved Shs97 billion for phase one renovation works of the facility ahead of CHAN, and MPs have recommended an interim audit of the funds.