Kampala — ORGANISERS of the inaugural CHOGM Challenge Cup will start off their campaign for the July 2007 soccer competition with a sh300m investment.

Ball International Group (BIG) boss Immanuel Misagga explained that this initial injection will be in facilities like stadia.

The sh4.8bn event is set to precede the December Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kampala.

Misagga said BIG's efforts to secure international corporate sponsorship are very promising.

"It wouldn't be professional to reveal some of these bodies when negotiations are still in progress," said Misagga.

BIG is also banking on funding from the Private Sector Foundation (PSF) to cater for training personnel that will manage the event.

BIG's quest for alternative sponsors follows failure of the line ministry to fund the event.

Education and sports permanent secretary F. X. Lubanga in a June 16 communication said much as his ministry welcomed the idea, it did not have the required funds.

"My ministry doesn't have a budget line to contribute financially towards this project. All expenditures will therefore be incurred without recourse to the ministry," wrote Lubanga on the proposal.