Agency
President Yoweri Museveni flagged off the US$ 129 million state-of-the-art facility construction of Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City on Wednesday.
In December last year, the Government handed over the site to the Egyptian firm, SAMCO National Construction Company having signed the contract at State House, Nakasero in Kampala on December 6, 2024.
The construction of the 20,000-seater sporting facility is expected to last 20 months.
The Olympic Stadium is being constructed in memory of Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist, John Akii-Bua.
While breaking the ground, President Museveni explained why starting the construction took so long despite the urgent need for a stadium in Lango, saying that priorities were focused on peace and the well-being of the citizens.
Upon completion, Akii-bua will have an athletic track, training facilities with at least two changing rooms; a 2,000-seat multi-sport indoor stadium, a 25-meter semi-Olympic swimming pool, outdoor courts for basketball, netball, volleyball, and badminton, and a 1,000-vehicle parking facility.
Other facilities will include five sports pitches, a fully furnished clubhouse for stadium operations, and a 60-room hostel.