President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda on Wednesday, December 24, officially opened Hoima City Stadium, describing it as a major national asset and urging residents to practise responsible waste disposal to protect the environment. Located in Hoima City, the stadium is expected to play a central role in Uganda’s preparations to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Kenya and Tanzania. President Museveni said the facility was strategically constructed near an international airport, in line with requirements set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). “We initially wanted to bui
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda on Wednesday, December 24, officially opened Hoima City Stadium, describing it as a major national asset and urging residents to practise responsible waste disposal to protect the environment. Located in Hoima City, the stadium is expected to play a central role in Uganda’s preparations to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Kenya and Tanzania. President Museveni said the facility was strategically constructed near an international airport, in line with requirements set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). “We initially wanted to build John Aki-Bua Stadium, but CAF advised that the stadium must be near an international airport. That is why we settled on this location,” Museveni said. He noted that the government funded the project using domestic resources, which he attributed to Uganda’s steady and systematic economic growth. “We have the money, but we cannot do everything at the same time. Our resources are a result of building the economy step by step,” he explained. The President highlighted Uganda’s economic progress, citing improvements in food security, expanded irrigation, growth in manufacturing, and the rise of service sectors such as tourism, hospitality and music. He added that hosting AFCON has created an opportunity to fast-track infrastructure development in the region. Museveni commended the Turkish contractor, Summa, for completing the stadium on time and within budget, and thanked the family of the late Dr James Rujumba for providing the land. He also praised local manufacturing, citing Ugandan-made buses that have attracted orders from countries as far as South Africa. First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, described the stadium as a “Christmas gift” to the nation and a symbol of commitment and teamwork. She applauded the contractor’s dedication and patience and urged other contractors to uphold similar standards. “This is the Lord’s day, and we rejoice and are glad in it,” she said, adding that the stadium would deliver lasting benefits to Bunyoro and the country as a whole. In his closing remarks, President Museveni cautioned the public against careless waste disposal and stressed the importance of keeping the stadium and its surroundings clean. “Let us not dispose of waste irresponsibly,” he said. Hoima City Stadium is expected to boost sports development, tourism and economic activity in the region as Uganda prepares to host major continental and international sporting events. Hoima City Stadium is a flagship national sports infrastructure project implemented by the National Council of Sports (NCS) under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) design-and-build turnkey contract. Construction began on September 1, 2024, with an 18-month implementation period and a 12-month defects liability period. The total project cost is USD 129 million (approximately Shs 500 billion). The stadium occupies a 16.8-hectare site (168,000 square metres) and includes a 20,000-seater main stadium, a 2,000-seater mini arena, a semi-Olympic swimming pool (25m by 12.5m), a standard football pitch (68m by 106m), indoor and outdoor running tracks, two basketball courts and two volleyball courts. Supporting facilities include 839 parking spaces (720 open and 119 closed), one presidential suite, 12 sky boxes with VIP lounges, eight elevators, 59 sanitary units and an additional 13 for persons with disabilities, four dressing rooms, a 50-seat press conference room, 10 concession units and five retail units. At peak construction, the project employed 1,067 workers, including 732 Ugandans (69 per cent), 266 Turkish nationals (25 per cent) and 69 workers (6 per cent) from other countries, reflecting significant local participation. The official project completion date is February 28, 2028.
The stadium occupies a 16.8-hectare site and includes a 20,000-seater main stadium, a 2,000-seater mini arena
Located in Hoima City, the stadium is expected to play a central role in Uganda’s preparations to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations
President Museveni said the facility was strategically constructed near an international airport
Hoima City Stadium is expected to boost sports development
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.