The Government of Uganda has signed a contract with M/S SUMMA, a Turkish Company, for the construction of a 20,000-seater Hoima multi-purpose stadium ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Hoima Stadium is among those that Uganda plans to host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which it will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
The stadium will be constructed within 18 months and is required to be ready by December 2025. The Ministry of Works and Transport, supported by the recently inaugurated Africa Cup of Nations Sub-Committee on Infrastructure, will supervise this project.
The contract signing ceremony was hosted by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, at State House Nakasero on Friday, June 7, 2024.
Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel signed on behalf of the Government of Uganda and the National Council of Sports in his capacity as the Secretary General of NCS, while Selim Bora signed on behalf of M/S Summa Construction Company. The process was guided by John Bosco Suza, the Director of Legal Advisory Services, who represented the Attorney General.
Also present were the Security Minister, Major General Jim Muhwezi; State Minister for Finance and Planning, Amos Lugoloobi; Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba; State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara; Hoima City East Division MP, Dr. Isingoma Patrick; and Mayor Kaboyo Brian.
Others included Permanent Secretaries Ketty Lamaro and Dorcas Okalany, senior government officials, members of the business community, the sports fraternity, and representatives from M/S Summa Company.
Prior to the contract signing, the Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, handed over a land title of 34.9 acres for the Hoima City Stadium. The title, in the name of the National Council of Sports, was given to the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, who then handed it to the Chairman of the National Council of Sports, Ambrose Tashobya.
Mrs. Janet Museveni appreciated all the people who have been proactive in the process of developing sports infrastructure in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.
The Sports Minister, Peter Ogwang, reported that M/S Summa has done an excellent job in the construction of the Kigali Arena and the renovation of the state-of-the-art Amahoro Stadium.
He requested that M/S Summa not abuse the trust that Uganda has placed in them as the constructors of the Hoima Stadium but deliver an excellent job on the people’s project by December 31, 2025.
He pointed out the need for Uganda to develop holistic plans to tap into sports tourism to generate revenue for the country. He cited Rwanda as an example, which he said generates almost one billion US dollars for the government every year from sports tourism.
