Museveni Officially Opens Hoima City Stadium Ahead of AFCON 2027

Hoima City – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the First Lady, also Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, have officially opened the Hoima City Stadium, a state-of-the-art 20,000-seater facility, marking a major milestone in Uganda’s sports infrastructure development.

The stadium, located in Mparo Division, Hoima City, about three kilometres from the city centre, was completed in just over 12 months and is one of Uganda’s key venues earmarked for hosting matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.

Construction works began in September 2024 and were concluded in December 2025, five months ahead of schedule. The project was undertaken by Turkish firm Summa International Construction Company Inc. at an estimated cost of between $129 million and $131 million (about Shs484 billion), fully financed through Uganda’s Petroleum Fund.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Museveni hailed the project as a strategic investment in youth development, sports tourism, and national pride, noting that modern infrastructure is critical to nurturing talent and positioning Uganda as a continental sports destination.

The Hoima City Stadium boasts a FIFA-standard hybrid grass pitch that scored a perfect five-star rating in an independent assessment. The complex also includes a 2,000-seater indoor arena for basketball, boxing and volleyball, a semi-Olympic swimming pool, an eight-lane IAAF-certified athletics track, a training pitch, and outdoor tennis and netball courts.

Additional amenities include VVIP and VIP lounges, a fully equipped media centre with free Wi-Fi, a gym, a medical bay, a VAR room, four changing rooms, and parking space for up to 1,500 vehicles. The stadium is fitted with a 1,200-lux LED floodlight system to support night matches.

Several government officials, sports administrators and dignitaries attended the commissioning, with State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang serving as Director of Programmes.

The opening of Hoima City Stadium adds to Uganda’s growing portfolio of modern sports facilities and strengthens the country’s readiness to successfully host major continental football events, including AFCON 2027.