Arua

By Sabir Musa

At 7pm, bright lights installed at different locations inside the newly constructed 2Ambe Arena in Arua City were switched on, giving a clear sign for an ongoing game that started at 6pm to continue without any interruption.

Established by 2ambe Company Limited, it is the first ever playground with artificial turf and strong lights to allow games at night.
The company’s Managing Director, Osman Thuambe in an interview at the facility revealed that, the football playground is part of a bigger project that will see the construction of a facility for gym, aerobic and sauna. “Much as you think it is done, I have said that it is just part of a process” he says, adding that that work at the facility alone has costed about more than 200 million shillings. “But the actual figure will come when we finish all other facilities” Thuambe confirms.

At the facility, a washroom and bathing shelter are also constructed as space for preparation before and after playing.
According to management of the company, this facility was initially designed for staff to participate in health and sports activities as leisure, but now open to public on demand.
Due to intermittent power supply in the region, 7KV standby generator is used as an alternative to enable night games go on.
Shortly after a game at night, Nabil, a resident in Arua City who played the game shared his experience on artificial turf. “It is a very good experience for the first time in West Nile”, he says with excitement. Since the official opening on Christmas day, several people continue to turn up at the facility to watch games both during day and night times. Mansur Goodsticker who plays football for exercise commends the company for this initiative and appeal that “more things like this should be established in the region”.

Management of the facility states that guards were recruited to offer security for people playing and properties around.
The same company is also constructing a volley ball court and plans to introduce other health activities.