Cricket, for decades, has been a squatter in its own country. Lugogo Oval – the spiritual home – became a victim of music shows, political rallies, carnivals and all manners of non-sport events that increasingly destroyed the sacred square.
Kyambogo was run down after UCA’s lease expired with the authorities seemingly favouring other disciplines over Gentleman’s Game. It was football, rugby, an army camp and corporate events that took over the University Oval.
Entebbe Golf Course Oval has primary been carrying the nation’s international commitments and burden courtesy of Entebbe Club’s goodwill.Now that dynamic has finally changed. Cricket Uganda (CU) has officially secured 15 acres of land in Nakasajja – Gayaza.
For the first time, Ugandan cricket will build its own facilities, on its own land, without begging for space.
‘This is a monumental achievement for the cricket fraternity,’ CU chairman Jackson Kavuma told Daily Monitor.
‘The Board backed each other and supported each other through this. Credit to CEO Evelyn Kabongerwa Shinyekwa and her team who spent months combing for legitimate land – land without encumbrances and squatters.
“All due diligence reports passed. Now we can move.’
Steady hands
Land Board chairman Ketan Shukla said getting the land was brutal but the breakthrough is massive. ‘We had problems getting the land and we’re happy that we have finally got it,’ Shukla said.
‘We will now look for partners to get combined efforts. The difference is that this time we go to people with land in hand. They will listen.’CEO Kabongerwa revealed the search took intelligence, patience and networks.
‘We worked with Richard Okia and involved several other sourcing channels, and visited multiple sites.’ she said.
‘This particular acre-age is sports-conducive, naturally flat, and has a natural stream which is a perfect catchment for water harvesting.’Former international Okia, who led the search, added:
‘We viewed many sites since October 2025. When we saw this one, the sports potential spoke for itself. The Board members who inspected it were unanimously satisfied.’
Game changer
The significance is enormous. First, CU will now stop paying rent for office space. The association will finally work, plan, develop, strategise and implement from a home that it owns. Secondly, CU will no longer be subject to begging for calendar space.
It will operate and manage its own two international-standard ovals and, consequently, have full control of its hosting schedules.
With this land comes the birth of a High Performance Centre (HPC) which will not only be a game factory for local talent but also a magnet for foreign players, foreign teams and regional academies that can come, train, camp and actually pay for the services. UCA will earn from it.
Thirdly, Uganda will now go to ICC tender tables with confidence. The ability to bid for – and actually win – hosting rights for major ICC pathway tournaments will now stop being a wish.
It becomes viable because the sport will control its own facility without interference from third party event managers.
Local effect
Locally, the development spread is poised to ripple right through Nakasajja, Gayaza, Kasangati, Kira, Bulindo and the surrounding belt with obvious social-economic spin-offs.
Restaurants, bars, catering, transport, rooming, water business, boda-boda movement, merchandisers and support service companies will emerge around cricket activity.
Jobs will be created. A village will transform. Most importantly, Ugandan cricket has finally divorced the pain of watching its sacred squares vandalised, overrun and compromised by events that have nothing to do with sport. Historic is not an exaggeration.
This is unquestionably the biggest cricket development milestone since the Cricket Cranes qualified for a global World Cup.
QUICK FACTS
HOME OF CRICKET LAND ACQUISITION
Land Size: 15 Acres
Location: Nakasajja – Gayaza
Distance From Lugogo Hq: 27 Kilometres
Distance From Nakasajja Trading Centre: 1 Kilometre
Time Span of Search: 20+ Years
Land Search Reignited: October 2024
Number Of Sites Viewed: 7 (3 in Nakasajja, 1 in Gayaza, 1 in Mukono and 2 in Kalagi)
Final Site Decision Date: October 1, 2025 (Unanimous Technical Recommendation)
Board Approval Date: October 6, 2025 (Board Members Green-Lit Site)
Details Discussed with Land Owner: October 14, 2025
Contract Signed and Payment Plan Made: November 1, 2025 (Lugogo)
KEY FEATURES:
Natural stream on site ? water harvesting potential
Sports-friendly terrain ? naturally flat acreage
Natural pine and vegetation ? ideal watershed and scenery
No Encumbrances ? Passed environmental checks, boundary survey, and due diligence.
NEXT PHASE: Development of two international-standard cricket ovals + supporting facilities.
TALKING POINT
Game economics
Finally. A high performance centre on owned land means cricket can make its own money – not beg for it. It will host academies, coaching camps, physiotherapy clinics, strength and conditioning programmes, women’s cricket residencies and even international tournaments.
27 kilometresThat is the distance from Lugogo to the new land. Not too far for Kampala. Not too near for encroachers to interfere. Perfect middle.