Ham Kiggundu, the CEO of Ham Group and a 40-year-old Ugandan businessman, has categorically rejected claims that he offered Nigerian multimillionaire artist Burna Boy up to $1 million to perform at the grand opening of Kampala’s refurbished Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium.
The multipurpose sports and entertainment stadium in Uganda’s capital city has been undergoing substantial renovations since 2017 as part of a joint venture between the Ugandan government and Ham Group.
Kiggundu’s current reply, corroborated by individuals close to him, followed a flurry of media claims first revealed by Kenyan online newspaper Tuko. According to these rumors, Kiggundu was thinking about bringing the A-list artist to Uganda to play at the grand reopening of the Nakivubo Stadium.
Burna Boy, one of Africa’s top artists and one of the continent’s highest-earning entertainers, has amassed a sizable fortune through his concerts and performances, cementing his position as one of the continent’s wealthiest musicians. His profile was boosted further when he was named the African artist with the highest single-concert income.
Burna Boy’s most lucrative concert to date was his April 28, 2022 performance at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. He wowed 20,789 fans and earned an incredible $1,576,641 at the event. The event, which sold 13,586 tickets, cemented Burna Boy’s status as a global music icon.
Kiggundu owns buildings in Kampala, including Ham Towers and Ham shopping malls, in addition to his businesses in drinks, logistics, and real estate. He is also the driving force behind the reconstruction of Nakivubo Stadium, supervising plans to renovate the grounds, raise seating capacity from 30,000 to 35,000, and build retail outlets within the stadium’s outer walls. This multimillion-dollar project is being funded by Kiggundu’s company, Ham Group.
As the grand opening of Nakivubo Stadium approaches, speculation mounts over whether President Museveni’s office will confirm attendance. The stadium’s rejuvenation marks a significant milestone for sports and entertainment in Uganda.
