‘We Couldn’t Afford to be Embarrassed’ – Museveni on Building Hoima Stadium Ahead of Afcon 2027

Built on a 34-acre site on the outskirts of Hoima, the complex includes training pitches, athlete facilities, media zones, parking and security installations, and is designed to meet international and FIFA standards, officials said

Museveni showcases his skills at the commissioning of the stadium

President Museveni has commissioned the Hoima City Stadium, a $129 million sports complex built as part of Uganda’s preparations to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania, saying the tournament had accelerated investment in sports and supporting infrastructure.

The 20,000-seat outdoor stadium and adjoining 2,000-seat indoor arena were completed four months ahead of schedule by Turkey’s Summa International Construction Company Inc, which was contracted in June 2024, the government said.

Speaking Wednesday at the commissioning ceremony in Hoima City, western Uganda, Museveni praised the contractor’s workmanship and said the project demonstrated what he called disciplined planning and prioritisation.

“I have seen the stadium and the roads they have constructed. They are very good workers, and we are going to do more with them,” Museveni said before officially opening the facility.

Museveni is taken through the features of the stadium

Built on a 34-acre site on the outskirts of Hoima, the complex includes training pitches, athlete facilities, media zones, parking and security installations, and is designed to meet international and FIFA standards, officials said.

The stadium is expected to host AFCON matches and other regional and international competitions.

Museveni said the government opted to fully fund the project after rejecting a pre-financing arrangement that would have attracted high interest costs.

“Initially the company was to pre-finance the project, but the interest was high, so we decided to fund it ourselves,” he said, responding to public debate over the cost of the facility.

He said Uganda’s ability to undertake large infrastructure projects was underpinned by what he described as strong economic fundamentals built over decades, citing agriculture, manufacturing and services as key pillars.

“Agriculture is very strong. We don’t import food. From there we moved into manufacturing and services, and now sports are also part of the economy,” Museveni said.

Uganda won the right to co-host AFCON 2027 under the “Pamoja” bid with Kenya and Tanzania, a decision Museveni said compelled the country to fast-track preparations.

Government officials attending the function

“When we took on the responsibility of hosting AFCON, we could not afford to be embarrassed,” he said. “We had to make sure everything was ready.”

Hoima City Stadium is one of several venues Uganda is developing for the tournament, which the government hopes will boost tourism, local economies and the country’s international profile.