Museveni Hails AFCON 2027 as Catalyst for Uganda’s Sports and Infrastructure Boom

Hoima City – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday officially commissioned the Hoima City Stadium, marking a major milestone in Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Kenya and Tanzania.

The commissioning ceremony, held in Hoima City, Bunyoro sub-region, was attended by thousands of residents, sports fans, government officials, and dignitaries from across the country and abroad.

The President was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, who oversaw the project’s implementation.

Constructed by Turkish firm Summa International Construction Company Inc, the Hoima City Stadium is a $129 million (approximately Shs463 billion) multi-sports complex that was completed in a record 12 months, four months ahead of schedule. The Government of Uganda signed the construction contract with Summa in June 2024 as part of preparations for AFCON 2027, which Uganda will co-host under the “Pamoja Bid” with Kenya and Tanzania.

Addressing the gathering, President Museveni praised Summa for what he described as exceptional workmanship and efficiency, noting that the project stood as evidence of what Uganda can achieve with proper planning, discipline, and prioritisation.

“I want to thank the Turkish company for the good work. I have seen the stadium, and I have also seen some of the roads they have constructed. They are very good workers, and we are going to do more with them,” President Museveni said. “It is now my pleasure to officially commission the Hoima City Stadium,” he added, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

To symbolically launch the stadium, the President stepped onto the pitch and juggled a football three times at the centre circle, amid ululations and applause from thousands of football fans who had packed the stands.

Built on a 34-acre piece of land on the outskirts of Hoima City, the stadium complex comprises a 20,000-seater outdoor stadium designed to host football, rugby, and athletics, as well as a 2,000-seater indoor arena for indoor sports such as basketball, netball, volleyball, and other disciplines.

President Museveni commended the family of the late Dr Rujumba, who donated 10 acres of land towards the project. “I want to start by thanking the family of the late Rujumba for the land to construct the stadium. Thank you, the Rujumba family, for your patriotism,” the President said.

President Museveni also clarified public concerns regarding the financing of the stadium, stressing that the project was fully funded by the Government of Uganda, following a strategic decision to avoid high-interest pre-financing arrangements.

“Initially, the Summa company was supposed to pre-finance the project, but we found that their money came with a lot of interest. So, we said no — let us fund the project ourselves,” the President explained.

He used the occasion to address public debate around government spending on sports infrastructure, arguing that Uganda’s ability to undertake such projects was anchored in the country’s strong economic fundamentals.

“I have been seeing people in the media talking about this and that — things they are not sure about. The truth is that we have constructed this stadium with our own money in the shortest time possible because we have the money,” President Museveni said. “Uganda has the money, but we cannot do everything at once. Development requires prioritisation.”

The facility meets international and FIFA-compliant standards, making it suitable for hosting continental and international competitions beyond AFCON 2027. In addition to the main stadium, the complex includes training areas, athlete facilities, administrative blocks, media zones, parking areas, and modern security and safety installations.

President Museveni linked Uganda’s capacity to invest in major infrastructure projects to decades of economic restructuring under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government.

He highlighted agriculture as the foundation of Uganda’s economy, noting that the country is among the few globally that does not rely on food imports. “Agriculture is very strong. We don’t import food. Bananas, maize, milk, beef — all these are produced here. That is the base of our economy,” he said.

From agriculture, President Museveni said, Uganda had expanded into manufacturing — including vehicle assembly — and services such as tourism, hospitality, music, dance and drama (MDD), and now sports.

“We had not concentrated so much on sports before because we were busy with security, agriculture, manufacturing, and services. But now sports are also part of the economy,” he explained.

President Museveni described Uganda’s successful bid to co-host AFCON 2027 as a turning point that compelled the country to fast-track sports infrastructure development.

“When we took on the responsibility of hosting AFCON 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania, we realised we could not afford to be embarrassed,” he said. “We said we must do what it takes so that when visitors come, we have everything ready.”

He added that Hoima City Stadium exemplified what he termed the “NRM method of work” — identifying priorities and mobilising resources to deliver results within set timelines. “This AFCON has stimulated us to do something here. If you want to understand prioritisation, come to Hoima and look at this stadium,” President Museveni said.

Among the dignitaries present were the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, cultural leaders, and thousands of football enthusiasts from across the country.