The government of Uganda, through the National council of sports (NCS) has signed Memorandums of Agreement (MoA) with Gulu and Lira universities for the construction of training grounds.
As a CAF requirement, stadiums qualify as hosts for major continental tournaments when they have four standard training grounds attached to them.
For the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium currently under construction in Lira City, that purpose would be served by Gulu University, Lira University, Pece Stadium and the ground at the stadium itself.
NCS led by Board Chairman Ambrose Tashobya and General Secretary Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel putting pen to paper on behalf of government, while the Vice Chancellors Prof. George Ladaah Openjuru (Gulu) and Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng (Lira) signed for the two universities.
To witness the signing were NCS secretariat and board members as well as local political and administrative leaders.
NCS also had an engagement with the Gulu District Local Government, during which Tashobya clarified on the required transferring of Pece Stadium land to the government before any work can be done.
“This is in accordance with provisions in the National Sports Act of 2023,” Tashyobya noted.
The Gulu Local Government in turn committed to expediting the process of transfer of the land.
Development of these training grounds is expected to kick off before the end of January 2026, and will be executed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade under the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
The construction will be supervised by the Ministry of Works and Transport as lead consultants.
Uganda will co-host AFCON 2027 with neighbours Kenya and Tanzania.
