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Pastor Joseph Sserwadda, the lead pastor of Victory Christian Centre, has shared details of the ambitious plan to construct a state-of-the-art stadium for Uganda’s born-again community.
The ‘Balokole Stadium’ project is estimated to cost $388 million (Shs 1.26 trillion) and will require at least 100 acres of land.
According to Pastor Sserwadda, the initial estimate was much lower, but after consulting a team of experts, they were advised that the project needed much more space and funding.
“We have picked a team of experts and held meetings with them, and they told us that we need $388 million or Shs 1.26 trillion for the project," he explained.
The stadium is designed to host major national events, including government and sports functions, and will cater for people preparing for such events weeks in advance.
It will feature a 5-star hotel accommodating 200 high-profile guests, a conference centre for 10,000 people, wedding gardens, and ample parking space.
A Hub for Worship and Business
Church elder Joel Zziwa revealed that the stadium will be surrounded by several income-generating projects, making it more than just a place of worship.
“The team of experts gave us a plan for how the stadium would look. It will be surrounded by shopping centres, a university, a chapel, and accommodation facilities,” Zziwa said.
Zziwa noted that the church is putting its faith into action, believing that the necessary resources will come together in due time.
“We left that meeting believing that God has everything we need,” he added.
Inspired by a Last-Minute Disappointment
Pastor Sserwadda’s vision for the stadium was born out of a frustrating experience at the end of last year.
Having booked Namboole Stadium for his annual Passover prayer event on December 31st, he was unexpectedly informed—just days before the event—that the venue was no longer available.
He said he received no proper explanation from government officials, including State Minister for Sports, Hon Peter Ogwang.
Left scrambling for an alternative, Pastor Sserwadda secured a last-minute venue near Kabaka’s Lake in Ndeeba, where the crossover prayers were held.
Following this incident, he launched a fundraising drive to build a dedicated stadium for the born-again community, ensuring that such last-minute disruptions never happen again.
The fundraiser was attended by several senior pastors, many of whom pledged financial support towards the project.