Ham Kiggundu, a 40-year-old Ugandan businessman and CEO of Ham Group, has vehemently denied rumors of offering Nigerian multimillionaire musician Burna Boy up to $1 million to perform at the grand opening of Kampala’s renovated Nakivubo War Memorial Stadium.
The multipurpose sports and entertainment arena, located in the heart of Uganda’s capital city, has been under extensive renovation since 2017 as part of a joint venture between the Ugandan government and Ham Group.
The recent reaction by Kiggundu, confirmed by sources close to him, follows a flurry of media reports initially disclosed by Kenyan online newspaper Tuko. These reports suggested that Kiggundu was contemplating bringing the A-list artist to Uganda to electrify the audience with a performance at the Nakivubo Stadium’s grand reopening.
Burna Boy, one of Africa’s top musicians and among the highest-earning performers on the continent, has built an impressive fortune through his concerts and performances, solidifying his status as one of Africa’s wealthiest musicians. His reputation was further bolstered by his title as the African artist with the highest single-concert revenue.
Burna Boy’s most lucrative concert to date was his performance at New York City’s Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2022. At the event, he dazzled 20,789 fans and raked in an astounding $1,576,641 in revenue. The concert, which witnessed the sale of 13,586 tickets, solidified Burna Boy’s position as a global music icon.
Kiggundu, besides his ventures in beverages, logistics, and real estate, owns properties in Kampala, including Ham Towers and Ham shopping malls. He is also the driving force behind the Nakivubo Stadium’s renovation, overseeing efforts to upgrade the grounds, increase seating capacity from 30,000 to 35,000, and construct retail shops within the stadium’s outer walls. Kiggundu’s company, Ham Group, is funding this multi-million-dollar project.
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.
