After initially being ruled out as one of the stadiums to be used for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the government has backtracked and underlined the Akii Bua Stadium will be constructed.
State Minister for Sport Peter Ogwang disclosed that the plans to have the facility constructed were concluded and that completion would take 22 months.
“Plans to construct Akii 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,” Ogwang took to X.
“The Contractor will finance and build the Stadium through a pre-finance basis. 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.”
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.
Lango region has consistently had some of the highest numbers of soccer fans and gate collections as demonstrated in the FUFA Drum competition.
Meanwhile, it should be recalled that Uganda, along with Kenya and Tanzania, won the bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nakivubo Stadium has since undergone redevelopment, while renovation works at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole are in the final stages.
St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende, a privately owned facility by Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa, was also enlisted as the PAMOJA bid got submitted.
There are also concrete plans for a new state-of-the-art stadium in the oil city of Hoima near the newly constructed airport.