President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is set to officially open the newly completed Hoima City Stadium today, Wednesday, marking a major milestone in Uganda’s sports infrastructure development and preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 20,000-seater ultra-modern facility was formally handed over to government on Monday by the contractor, Ms Suuma, through the National Council of Sports (NCS). Built at a cost of USD 129 million, the stadium is one of Uganda’s flagship venues for the 2027 AFCON, which the country will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
Ahead of the inauguration, Ms Suuma’s Project Manager, Murat Altun, handed over the stadium to NCS Board Chairperson Ambrose Tashobya following a guided tour of the expansive multi-sports complex.
The grand opening ceremony will feature a friendly football match between Kitara FC and KCCA FC, alongside volleyball, netball, basketball, and swimming competitions, with activities expected to run into the evening.
Tashobya praised President Museveni for prioritizing sports infrastructure and called on residents of the Bunyoro sub-region to turn up in large numbers.
“People will start entering at 9 a.m. using a free ticketing system to manage crowds. The president will arrive around 11 a.m., followed by the Minister of Education and Sports, the ribbon-cutting, a guided tour for selected guests, and the president’s address,” he said.
He described Hoima City Stadium as a fully-fledged multi-purpose facility designed for sustainability, noting that rentable commercial spaces have been incorporated.
“We shall have a management entity, but people can hire the facility. Restaurants are included; only hostels and hotels were excluded due to limited space,” Tashobya explained.
The Turkish contractors were applauded for delivering the project five months ahead of the planned 18-month timeline. Altun expressed pride in the achievement, calling it the first project in Uganda to be completed ahead of schedule.
“The design and execution were excellent. We thank the president, the contractor, and local leaders for the strong support,” he said, adding that the team looks forward to future projects in the country.
Hoima City Woman MP Nyakato Asinansi hailed the stadium as a transformative development for the city, linking it to emerging economic opportunities brought by the oil sector.
“The stadium has arrived, oil is here, and it is time for us to prepare and benefit. This facility will help identify talent and grow sports,” she said.
The state-of-the-art complex boasts a 2,000-seater indoor arena, a semi-Olympic-size swimming pool, a training pitch, outdoor courts, a fully equipped gym, modern offices, and parking space for over 1,000 vehicles, positioning Hoima City as a key sports and events hub in the region.
