Sports 27 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Akii-Bua Stadium Construction Surpasses Schedule Targets
Uganda's Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City has hit 40% completion ahead of its original timeline, with officials now eyeing a finish by December 2026 to support AFCON 2027 preparations. State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang praised the rapid progress and called for private investment in local hotels. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-says-akii-bua-stadium-ahead-of-timeline-5405176
Construction at the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City is advancing swiftly, reaching 40% completion faster than anticipated. The Shs470 billion project, launched in May 2025 by SAMCO National Construction Company, was set for a February 2027 handover but now targets December 2026.
Project manager Mohammed Nazih highlighted steady roof work at 25%, using a reinforced bar system with seven internal bars and five for the façade and climate control. The team aims to wrap up the roof in three months, completing three sections monthly.
State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang commended the government-contractor teamwork during a site visit, confirming the early finish promise. He stressed the stadium’s role as a lasting national asset for global events and a backup for AFCON 2027.
To ensure top standards, experts have called in the Confederation of African Football and World Athletics for early inspections. The Ministry of Works and Transport oversees the build.
The complex will boast a 20,000-seat main stadium with an athletics track, a 2,000-seat indoor arena, a 25-metre semi-Olympic pool, outdoor courts, five pitches, a 60-room hostel, parking for 1,000 vehicles, and more.
Ogwang noted gaps in Lira’s hospitality, pushing for 4- and 5-star hotels via private investors, alongside upgrades to Gulu Airport and roads.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)