Kampala, (UG):– The Minister of State for Sports, Hon Peter Ogwang has disclosed plans for the construction and completion of Akii Bua Stadium in Lira City have been finalized and that the stadium will be ready in time for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Hon Ogwang on Thursday said the reconstruction of the multi-billion shillings stadia which had stalled for years has now been reawakened after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Joint Venture of Khator Sports and SAMCO to complete the stadium in less than 20 months.
“Plans to construct Aki Bua Stadium in Lira City have been finalised after we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Joint Venture of Khator Sports and SAMCO to construct the stadium in less than 20 months,” Mr Ogwang stated.
“This sports infrastructure is a critical project in our preparations to host the 2027 AFCON and therefore, it will be fast-tracked for its timely completion,” he added.
According to the Minister, the Contractor will finance and build the Stadium through a pre-finance basis. He commended President Museveni, the First Lady, and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni for identifying the contractor.
“The Contractor will finance and build the Stadium through a pre-fianance basis. This sports infrastructure is critical project in our preparations to host the 2027 AFCON and therefore, it will be fast-tracked for its timely completion,” Ogwang said.
The new Akii Bua sports complex will have the capacity to accommodate over 20,000 spectators and is expected to cost over 70 million dollars.
John Akii Bua, a national hero was the first Uganda to win an Olympic gold medal and in his memory, the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni pledged in 2010 to construct Akii Bua Stadium in Lira, but has since been yet to be realized.
AFCON 2027 Stadiums
On September 27, 2023, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded hosting rights for the 36th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 to Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania under the East Africa joint Pamoja Bid.
The Akii Bua Olympic Stadium is one of the stadiums earmarked for construction in anticipation of hosting the AFCON 2027.
The government also plans to set up a new state-of-the-art stadium in the oil city of Hoima near the newly constructed airport.
Other stadiums selected in Uganda included; Nakivubo Stadium which has since undergone redevelopment, and the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole where renovation works are in the final stages.
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, a privately owned facility by Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, was also enlisted as one of the hosting stadiums.
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