The rapid progress of Hoima City Stadium has drawn renewed government attention, with Turkish firm Summa now set to take over the second phase of renovations at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
The firm, currently spearheading Hoima’s transformation into a world-class sports complex, is expected to replace the UPDF Engineering Brigade once Uganda Cranes’ World Cup Qualifier against Somalia is played in September.
According to Summa, concrete works at Hoima Stadium should be completed by April, paving the way for finalising the main stadium.
The facility is expected to be ready for football matches by August, even as work continues on the indoor arena, swimming pool, and other sections.
This means that from September, Uganda’s national teams will shift their home games to Hoima while Namboole undergoes further upgrades.
Lt. Col. English Peter Kidemuka of the UPDF Engineering Brigade previously confirmed that Namboole’s next phase would include a canopy over the stands, expanded VVIP seating and increased overall capacity.
Additionally, a multipurpose indoor arena, similar to the one under construction in Hoima, is part of the plan. These upgrades are essential as Uganda prepares to co-host AFCON 2027.
Summa’s track record of delivering large-scale sports infrastructure in record time has strengthened its position as a top choice for government projects.
The firm completed the 10,000-seat Kigali Arena in Rwanda within six months, employing over 1,200 locals alongside 500 Turkish workers.
It has also successfully delivered projects such as the Kigali Congress Centre, Dakar Arena in Senegal, and upgrades to Rwanda’s Amahoro Stadium.
With Summa’s efficiency evident in Hoima, expectations are high that the same speed and quality will be applied to the next phase of Namboole’s renovation, ensuring Uganda is ready to beat the December 2026 deadline to have all facilities for AFCON 2027 ready.
