Lira City – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and First Lady Maama Janet Museveni, who also serves as the Minister of Education and Sports, today presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Akii-Bua Stadium and multi-sports complex in Lira City.
This landmark project marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s commitment to sports development, particularly as the country prepares to host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) games.
Addressing a mammoth crowd of excited residents, President Museveni emphasised the government’s gradual but determined approach to investing in sports infrastructure.
“People sometimes claim that this government is ineffective or overlooks the importance of sports. As both a sportsman and a footballer, I understand that focusing on sports was challenging during the country’s rebuilding phase. However, development must be taken step by step—Kamu Kamu gwe muganda (one by one makes a bundle),” the President remarked.
The colourful and lively event was graced by high-ranking government officials, including Government Chief Whip Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, Health Minister and Lira City Woman MP Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Gender, Labour, and Social Development Minister Hon. Betty Amongi, State Minister for Northern Uganda Hon. Kenneth Olusegun Omona, and State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang, who also served as Director of Programmes. Several area Members of Parliament, religious leaders, cultural representatives, and local administrators were also present.
World-Class Sports Facility for Northern Uganda
The Akii-Bua Stadium, named after the legendary John Akii-Bua, Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist from the 1972 Munich Games, will be a state-of-the-art sports complex, constructed at a cost of $129 million.
The project, overseen by the National Council of Sports (NCS), was officially handed over to Egyptian contractors M/S SAMCO on Christmas Eve, with site clearing already completed.
The supervising consultants from the Ministry of Works and Transport, led by Architect Andrew Nsamba and Project Manager Eng. Julius Tayebwa, confirmed that the stadium will be completed within 20 months.
Once finished, the Akii-Bua Stadium complex will feature: a 20,000-seater main stadium, an athletics track, a full-sized football field with at least two changing rooms, a 2,000-seat multi-sport indoor stadium, a 25-meter semi-Olympic-sized swimming pool, outdoor courts for basketball, netball, volleyball, and badminton, 1,000-vehicle parking facility, full state-of-the-art ICT capabilities and 60-bed hostel for athletes.
NCS Board Chairperson Ambrose Tashobya, alongside board members Moses Anyii Omara, Cecilia Anyakoit, and Piloya Evelyn Gloria, was present to reaffirm the Council’s commitment to ensuring the success of the project.
New Era for Ugandan Sports Infrastructure
The construction of Akii-Bua Stadium is part of Uganda’s broader push to modernize its sports infrastructure. It follows the renovation of Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) and the establishment of the National High Altitude Training Centre in Teryet, Kapchorwa. Additionally, the government has already broken ground for Hoima City Stadium, another mega sports facility in the making.
As Uganda gears up for AFCON 2027, President Museveni assured Ugandans that the government remains dedicated to nurturing talent and providing world-class sports facilities.
The Akii-Bua Stadium, he noted, would serve as a lasting tribute to John Akii-Bua, whose family attended the groundbreaking ceremony in honour of his legacy.
Bright Future for Sports in Northern Uganda
With the groundbreaking of the Akii-Bua Stadium, Lira City is set to become a major sporting hub in Uganda. The investment not only cements the government’s commitment to sports but also promises to bring economic opportunities, tourism, and community development to the region.
For the people of Lango, this project represents more than just a stadium—it is a symbol of progress, pride, and a bright future for Ugandan sports.
