The highly anticipated Uganda Cup final between KCCA FC and Paidha Black Angels continues to draw closer with now just five days left.
ChimpReports brings you the nitty grit facts and analysis ahead of the game and a countdown to the final.
In today’s article, we take a look at Arua district (Greenlight stadium to be exact) where the final will be held come Thursday 15th June.
About Arua town
Arua District is bordered by Yumbe District to the north, Adjumani District to the northeast, Amuru District to the east, Nebbi District to the southeast, Zombo District to the southwest, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the west, and Maracha District to the northwest.
The district headquarters at Arua are located about 425 kilometers (264 mi), by road, northwest of Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. The coordinates of the district are: 03 00N, 31 10E
Arua District got its name from Arua town.
In the late 1970s, the Ugandan president at the time Godfrey Binaisa declared that all districts/provinces acquire their names from their regional capital so that is how Arua district inherited the name from Arua town.
The district originally included Aringa County, which was later split off to become Yumbe District.
Arua district is the birthplace of former President Idi Amin.
It was a springboard for some units of the Uganda People’s Defense Force who entered the DRC at the beginning of the Second Congo War.
Arua District is a peaceful district; save for the disruption caused in the late 1990s by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels on the Karuma-Pakwach road that provides the main road link into the district.
In 2005, the northeastern part of the district was split off as the separate, new district of Koboko.
Arua District has five counties after three of the original six counties were split off.
Koboko was granted district status. Maracha was, in 2006, also granted district status, (Maracha District).
Initially, Terego County was also included in Maracha District (Maracha-Terego District). However, failing to agree on where the new district headquarters should be located, Terego County opted to remain part of the larger Arua District.
The inhabitants of Terego County in Arua District and those of Maracha District, regard themselves as different ethnicities; although the Government of Uganda recognizes them as the Lugbara.
The other counties in Arua District are: Vurra, Madi-Okollo and Ayivu; where the Arua District headquarters are located.
Greenlight stadium
Located about 5 kilometers on the outskirts of Arua town in a place called Paruku, Greenlight stadium is the home to Uganda premier league and new emerging football force Onduparaka football club.
The stadium was selected as the venue to host the final of the 43rd edition in March.
Like it has always been the norm, in a bid to spread football throughout the country, Fufa set the trend of having the Uganda Cup final played in the different regions of country.
West Nile region won the bid to host the 2017 final in January and settled for Greenlight stadium as the venue where the final game shall be played.
The playing surface is however a spot for concern with the pitch usually having patches of grass and bare ground due to too much heat almost throughout the year.
Approximately, the stadium has a capacity ranging between 6000-10000.
Credit: Additional information from Wikipedia