First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, has commended Turkish construction firm SUMMA for the remarkable progress made on the Hoima City Stadium in just seven months.
Speaking during the official commissioning of the stadium on Wednesday, March 19, she expressed her satisfaction with the pace of construction and praised the collaboration between various stakeholders in ensuring the project’s success.
“I am happy indeed to see the tremendous progress made by SUMMA within this period of seven months since construction started in September 2024,” she said.
She also acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, and local leaders for their active role in monitoring the project and providing feedback to the government.
The Hoima City Stadium is a major component of Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
The $129 million multi-sports complex will feature a 20,000-seat football stadium, a 2,000-seat indoor sports arena, a semi-Olympic-sized swimming pool, and outdoor courts for basketball, netball, and volleyball.
With SUMMA’s commitment to fast-tracking construction, the stadium is expected to be ready for use by August 2025, well ahead of its official December deadline.
The First Lady emphasized that once completed, the facility will significantly boost the development of sports in Uganda and provide a world-class venue for both local and international competitions.
President Yoweri Museveni, who officiated the commissioning, also reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in sports infrastructure.
He urged the private sector to complement these efforts by investing in supporting facilities such as hotels and transport services to maximize the economic benefits of hosting AFCON 2027.
The stadium’s rapid development comes at a crucial time when Uganda is also planning major renovations at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Pending government approvals, SUMMA is expected to take over the next phase of the Namboole renovation project, which includes installing a stadium canopy, expanding seating capacity, and building a multi-purpose indoor arena similar to the one in Hoima.
