The construction of the Akii-Bua Memorial Stadium in Lira City has entered the finishing phase as Uganda intensifies preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations that Uganda will co-host alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
Contractors have begun installing the stadium roof and will later proceed with façade works and interior finishing.
According to the project manager, Engineer Mohamed Nazir, the stadium’s structural framework is about 95 percent complete, with remaining works mainly involving the removal of shuttering, roofing installation, and finishing works.
Nazir explained that roofing works using a space truss system will soon begin to fully cover the stadium up to the first tier of the bleachers. After roofing, contractors will proceed with façade installation and external finishing, including painting and weather-resistant coating.
The stadium is part of a larger sports complex that will include a mini stadium with a capacity of 2,000 spectators, a 25-metre swimming pool, training pitches, tennis and basketball courts, and a hostel with about 60 rooms.
Other facilities include a clubhouse, indoor arena, elevated water tanks, and more than 25 entry gates around the complex.
According to Lawrence Egole, the Lira Resident City Commissioner, the project, upon completion, will present opportunities for business and development in the region.
He called on local investors to take advantage of the stadium by improving hospitality services, such as hotels, to accommodate visitors expected during AFCON.
“This fulfillment of the stadium construction is partly responsible for the voting pattern of president Museveni in the recent election because he delivered the promise,” noted Egole.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said Lira Regional Referral Hospital is preparing to provide medical services during the AFCON tournament.
“The ministry will ensure that the required specialists are in place. We have also come up with an emergency medical services acceleration project to ensure that we have the requisite number of ambulances in place including air ambulance.
Aceng said that the government is strengthening emergency medical systems, including increasing the number of ambulances and deploying specialists to ensure the hospital can handle emergencies during AFCON 2027.
The stadium that will cost the Ugandan government USD129 million is part of the earmarked facilities to host Afcon 2027.
The Joint Venture of Khator Sports and SAMCO with the government of Uganda was set to be complete in less than 20 months from the date of signing the memorandum of understanding in February 2024.
