On January 29, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni launched the construction of the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City, marking a significant milestone for sports infrastructure in Uganda. The project is valued at Sh490 million and will be executed by SAMCO National Construction Company over an estimated period of 20 months.
Named after John Akii-Bua, Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist, the stadium will accommodate up to 20,000 spectators and include state-of-the-art facilities such as training areas for various sports disciplines and a multi-sport indoor arena. The President emphasized that this initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing sports development within the country.
During his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony, Museveni addressed concerns regarding political motivations behind the project amidst upcoming elections. He reassured attendees that this endeavor is focused on uplifting sports rather than serving electoral interests.
The construction of Akii-Bua Stadium is expected to have far-reaching benefits for Lira City and its surroundings by promoting sporting events and fostering talent development. Local officials have also called for additional infrastructure projects like an international airport to further boost regional development alongside this significant investment in sports.