Govt Seals $129M Deal for Akii Bua Stadium, Lira Set to Become Uganda’s Next Sports Hub

Sports analysts have described the Akii Bua Stadium as a potential game-changer for northern Uganda’s economy.

This follows the Government recently signing a $129 million contract with Egypt’s SAMCO National Construction Company to build a world-class sports facility — the 20,000-seat Akii Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City. The project, expected to be completed within 20 months, will position Lira as a key sporting destination in East Africa.

Beyond sports, the facility is expected to spur job creation, tourism, and local business growth. With a capacity to host international events, Lira City could soon welcome teams, fans, and sponsors from across the East African region.

The National Council of Sports says that the location of the stadium in Lira makes it accessible to athletes and teams from the DRC, Kenya, and South Sudan and not just for Uganda it’s for the region.

The Akii Bua Stadium is set to become one of Uganda’s most comprehensive sports facilities, offering much more than just a football pitch. The site will house a multi-purpose sports complex, including:

• Main stadium with a seating capacity of 20,000 and an international-standard athletics track.
• 2,000-seat multi-sport indoor arena for basketball, volleyball, badminton, and netball.
• 25-meter semi-Olympic swimming pool, a first for the northern region.
• Sports training complex with two modern changing rooms.
• Outdoor courts for netball, volleyball, basketball, and badminton.
• 1,000-vehicle parking lot to ease traffic congestion during major events.

The project also includes key infrastructure such as access roads, perimeter fencing, a sewerage treatment plant, ICT systems, and a borehole to ensure a stable water supply. Notably, the site will have a 60-room hostel to accommodate athletes and officials, as well as a fully furnished clubhouse for stadium operations.

The signing ceremony, held at State House Nakasero on December 6, 2024, was presided over by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, marking a major step toward Uganda’s ambitions of becoming a regional sports powerhouse.

Speaking at the ceremony, State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang called the project a “game changer” for sports development in Uganda. He noted that the Akii Bua Stadium will create opportunities for talent development, sports tourism, and job creation.

“Lira is no longer just a city; it is becoming Uganda’s next sports hub. This stadium is more than just bricks and mortar ,it’s a foundation for future champions, homegrown talent, and a magnet for global sporting events.”Ogwang declared

He also took the opportunity to address the long-standing promise made by President Yoweri Museveni in 2010 to deliver a stadium for the Lango sub-region. Ogwang acknowledged that the wait had been long but affirmed that the stadium’s groundbreaking signified the fulfillment of that pledge.

“To the people of Lango, I know you have been very impatient about this, but today the stadium is a reality. This is one of the NRM government’s most significant achievements, and we urge you to continue supporting us.”Ogwang said.

The contract was signed by Muhammad Bbaale, the Accounting Officer of the National Council of Sports (NCS), on behalf of the Government of Uganda, while Engineer Ibrahim Abdelaziz Mahmoud Mabrouk signed for SAMCO National Construction Company. The agreement was witnessed by Solicitor General Pius Biribonwoha.

As a symbolic gesture, First Lady Janet Museveni handed over an 18.455-hectare land title for the stadium to Ambrose Tashobya, Chairperson of the National Council of Sports. The gesture was seen as a strong signal of the government’s commitment to seeing the project through to completion.

Representatives from the National Council of Sports (NCS), Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), and SAMCO National Construction were also present.

With the contract signed and funds secured, attention now shifts to implementation.

Hon. Peter Ogwang has urged SAMCO National Construction to mobilize resources immediately and begin construction work. He also requested that the First Lady and President Museveni officially commission the start of construction.

The clock is now ticking on the 20-month deadline. If completed on schedule, the Akii Bua Olympic Stadium will be ready for use by mid-2026, just in time to host major continental sporting events.

As excitement builds, residents of Lira and the wider Lango sub-region are optimistic that their patience will finally be rewarded with a world-class stadium that honors Uganda’s legendary Olympic gold medalist, John Akii-Bua, after whom the stadium is named.