KAMPALA – Mbarara City FC have on Thursday, September 9th, been granted a provisional permission by FUFA to host Uganda Premier League games at Kakyeka Stadium.
This was confirmed in a letter sent to the club’s Chief Executive Officer.
“The FUFA Club Licensing Manager in lesion with the FUFA Club Licensing Committee evaluated the current status of the playing pitch at Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara and observed that the surface has been upgraded almost meet the standards required for 1st division matches, read part of the letter.
“This is therefore to inform you that the Kakyeka Stadium has been given provisional permission to host 1st division matches effective 14th October 2019.”
Mbarara has been hosting it’s Uganda Premier League (1st Division) games at Luzira Prisons Stadium since the 2019/20 season started.
In their first four games there, the Ankole Lions have won two and lost as many.
They beat both Proline FC and Busoga United and lost the other two to Express FC and Maroons FC.
The move to return to Kakyeka will be a welcome boost to the side as they are usually strong there.
Last season, Mbarara lost just one game at Kakyeka with the loss coming at the hands of Onduparaka in February.
Despite receiving permission to return to Kakyeka, FUFA has also handed out strict conditions so as to grant the Stadium a full license.
“The permission however has been given on principal that the small patches still visible are upgraded to full green and that the pitch will stay in playable standards as per the Club Licensing Committee criteria, continued the letter.
“I hope the criteria in the letter meets your consideration and thank you for your continued development of the game.”
Mbarara along with Onduparaka FC, Tooro United and Bright Stars FC were all ordered to use alternative pitches at the start of the season as their home grounds did not meet the necessary requirements to host UPL games.
However, Onduparaka and Tooro United were allowed to return to their home grounds after meeting the requirements, a few games into the season.
For Bright Stars, they look ever so likely to stay at the Betway Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku where they did seek solace as the stadium in Mwerere is not being upgraded at the moment.
Mbarara City FC are currently 11th on the standings with 8 points from as many games.
Their next fixture will be at away to URA FC this weekend.
For their first game on return to Kakyeka, they will host defending champions KCCA FC on October 29th.