Janet Kajumba: The woman who keeps Uganda's Mandela Stadium pitch alive

At the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, where champions are crowned and dreams are broken, a quieter but equally powerful story unfolds and it is evident during the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.

Among the roar of the crowd and the glare of the floodlights, one woman bends over the grass with the same precision a surgeon brings to the operating table.

Janet Kajumba, the only female member of the stadium’s turf management team, is rewriting what it means to be a guardian of the game.

The Reluctant Voice That Found Its Stage

It took weeks of persuasion for Janet to agree to share her journey.

Reserved and wary of the spotlight, she only opened up after encouragement from stadium manager Jamil Sewanyana.

But when she finally did, her story came alive with conviction.

“Yes, I can answer your questions now,” she said with a shy smile, her voice steady but eyes sparkling.

That small moment revealed what her daily work embodies: resilience, determination, and belief in her place in football.

Grass, Science, and the Game She Loves

Janet is more than just a caretaker of grass. With a degree in agriculture from Kampala, she combines science and sport in a unique way.

In 2023, she undertook an intensive two-month course with German specialists on pitch care.

That training made her one of the few women on the continent technically qualified to manage stadium surfaces at international standard.

“Grass is like any agricultural crop,” she explains matter-of-factly. “With the right care, it thrives. Without it, it dies.”

For players and fans, a pristine pitch is often taken for granted. But for Janet, every blade of grass is a responsibility — and a statement of excellence.

Fighting Stereotypes in a Man’s World

When Janet first joined the maintenance team, skepticism and whispers followed her. Could she handle the physical and technical demands of a job dominated by men?

“Many doubted whether I could do it,” she recalls. “But I knew what I was capable of.”

Step by step, day after day, she proved herself.

Today, she leads operations ranging from mowing and fertilising to repairing damaged patches and marking the field.

During CHAN 2024, co-hosted by Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, her expertise ensured Mandela National Stadium met CAF’s high standards.

“Every line I mark, every meter of grass I care for, is done with conviction,” she says.

Between Pitch and Parenthood

Beyond the stadium, Janet wears another badge of honour — motherhood. With a three-month-old baby, her day starts before sunrise, balancing domestic duties with the demands of a stadium preparing for international football.

“It’s not always easy, but with organisation and support, everything is possible,” she says.

Her husband and family form a vital support system, allowing her to dedicate herself fully during tournaments.

Yet Janet admits that being a woman in her role often requires double the effort. “I feel like I have to work twice as hard to prove my worth, but that only makes me stronger.”

A Role Model for Africa’s Next Generation

Janet doesn’t just want to maintain pitches; she wants to maintain pathways. She believes strongly in the power of education and opportunity for women.

“Don’t let stereotypes limit your dreams,” she tells young African girls.

“Work hard, be disciplined, and believe in your potential. The path you create today will make it easier for those who come after you.”

Her dream is to one day become one of Africa’s foremost turf specialists, training a new generation of experts — male and female — to raise standards across the continent.

“Diversity only makes us stronger. We need more women in this field because together we can achieve incredible things.”

More Than a Caretaker

On the flawless turf of Mandela National Stadium — where finals are decided, goals celebrated, and dreams reborn — lies Janet’s unspoken legacy.

She is more than a groundskeeper. She is a pioneer, a mentor-in-waiting, and a symbol of how African women continue to break barriers quietly, yet profoundly.

Her story proves that heroes are not only made on the pitch. Sometimes, they are the ones who make the pitch itself ready for heroes.

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