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Efforts to establish a modern sports stadium in Kisoro District continue to gather momentum as SC Volcanoes intensifies negotiations aimed at transforming Shaaza Playground into the proposed Sarah Mateke Memorial Stadium.
The development was confirmed by SC Volcanoes Vice President Flight Captain Arthur Mugisha Ruchakatsi, popularly known as Bubu, while addressing journalists shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Kisoro Municipality mayor on Thursday.
The proposed stadium project is intended to honour the legacy of the late Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, who passed away on September 7, 2024, at the age of 50. Mateke served as Uganda’s State Minister for Defence and Woman Member of Parliament for Kisoro District and was widely recognized for her support toward youth empowerment and sports development initiatives in the region.
According to Captain Mugisha, discussions involving SC Volcanoes, Kisoro Municipality, and Kisoro District leadership are progressing steadily toward upgrading the playground into a modern sports facility capable of hosting high-level football competitions and other sporting activities.
The project carries deep emotional and symbolic significance for the district following the decision by the Kisoro District Council to rename the facility in honour of the late minister, whose vision strongly emphasized youth engagement through sports and community development.
Captain Mugisha revealed that the club leadership, working alongside SC Volcanoes president Dr. Martin Mbonye and other stakeholders, remains committed to restoring competitive football in Kisoro by ensuring that the district can host official home matches locally rather than outside the region.
“We want Kisoro to have a facility capable of hosting competitive football while also creating opportunities for young people through sports,” Mugisha said.
The club official noted that the newly constituted municipal and district councils present a fresh opportunity to finalize outstanding negotiations and accelerate implementation of the long-awaited infrastructure project.
Beyond football development, Mugisha challenged the new political leadership to prioritize transparent governance, improved service delivery, infrastructure expansion, and inclusive development rooted in accountability and equality.
He also raised concerns about growing insecurity within Kisoro Municipality, noting that criminal incidents continue to affect residents and undermine community confidence.
Referencing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s “Kisanja Hakuna Kulala” message, Mugisha urged leaders to embrace hardworking, corruption-free leadership styles focused on empowering youth, supporting women entrepreneurs, and expanding economic opportunities.
The SC Volcanoes vice president further rallied young people across Kisoro to support the club, describing it as one of the fastest-growing football institutions in Western Uganda following its recent triumph in the regional third division championship and qualification for the playoffs for promotion to the FUFA Big League.
He added that Kisoro possesses enormous untapped economic potential, particularly in tourism, citing the district’s mountain gorillas as one of Uganda’s leading tourist attractions after Entebbe.
Mugisha appealed for increased government investment in sports infrastructure, innovation hubs, tourism centres, and youth-focused development programmes capable of transforming livelihoods and positioning Kisoro as a key regional development hub.
For many football stakeholders in the district, the proposed Sarah Mateke Memorial Stadium represents more than a sports facility — it is viewed as a lasting symbol of the late minister’s vision for youth empowerment, community development, and the growth of football in Kisoro.
