The incident has raised fresh concerns about medical preparedness and safety standards at football venues in Uganda, particularly for top-flight matches where player welfare is expected to be a priority.
Disturbing scenes unfolded at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, on Tuesday night after an injured NEC FC player was left stranded due to a malfunctioning ambulance during a Uganda Premier League fixture.
The incident occurred on April 21, 2026, when NEC FC held Express FC to a goalless draw under the floodlights. However, the match was overshadowed by a serious safety lapse after NEC forward Richard Basangwa sustained a severe injury following a collision on the pitch.
Basangwa required urgent medical attention and immediate evacuation to hospital. But in a shocking turn, the ambulance stationed at the stadium was found to be ill-equipped to handle the emergency and had a flat tyre, rendering it unusable at a critical moment.
With time of the essence, officials and responders were forced to improvise, and a Land Cruiser vehicle was hastily arranged to transport the injured player to hospital.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about medical preparedness and safety standards at football venues in Uganda, particularly for top-flight matches where player welfare is expected to be a priority.
Fans and stakeholders have since expressed outrage over the situation, calling for stricter enforcement of matchday safety requirements to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
