The family of John Akii-Bua, Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist, has expressed appreciation to the government for its continued efforts to preserve his legacy, particularly through the construction of the Akii Bua Olympic Multipurpose Stadium in Lira.
Speaking at the 23rd Akii Bua Memorial Athletics Meet held at Namboole Stadium over the weekend, family members acknowledged President Yoweri Museveni’s role in recognizing and honoring their late father’s contributions to Ugandan sport and national pride.
“When we lost all our parents, we were left without any support and nearly lost our father’s house, which had been gifted to him after he won a gold medal. However, the current government has extended an olive branch by reclaiming the house and returning it to us. We are truly grateful,” said Tony Akii-Bua, one of Akii-Bua’s sons.
John Akii-Bua made history in 1972 when he won Uganda’s first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the Munich Games.
Then a Senior Superintendent of Police, Akii-Bua served under the government of President Idi Amin but was later forced into exile after the regime’s collapse.
Following his death in 1997 at the age of 47, his children faced years of hardship, including the risk of losing their family home, which had been gifted to Akii-Bua in recognition of his Olympic victory. In 2011, the government intervened to help the family reclaim the house.
The construction of the new stadium in Lira, named in Akii-Bua’s honor, represents what the family calls a major milestone—not only as a tribute to his athletic feat but as a national acknowledgment of his enduring legacy.
More than 200 athletes participated in the memorial meet, held annually to celebrate Akii-Bua’s life and achievements. Despite personal and political adversity, his triumph in Munich remains a defining moment in Uganda’s sporting history. His national 400m hurdles record, set over five decades ago, still stands.
The Akii Bua Olympic Stadium is seen by many as a permanent symbol of the hurdles he overcame—both on the track and in life.
