Demolition works have started at Pece War Memorial Stadium in Gulu as the facility begins a major redevelopment ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces Engineering Brigade has moved onto the site and started bringing down old structures at the stadium, marking the first visible phase of works as Uganda prepares to co-host AFCON 2027 alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
Pece Stadium has been earmarked as one of Uganda’s official training venues for the tournament under the Pamoja bid. The redevelopment is expected to transform the ageing facility into a modern training complex capable of hosting one of the participating national teams during the competition.
The stadium, one of northern Uganda’s oldest sports grounds, has for years operated with outdated infrastructure despite its historical importance to sport in the region. The latest works are expected to pave the way for construction of new dressing rooms, improved spectator areas, upgraded playing surfaces, floodlights and other modern facilities required by CAF standards.
The project also represents a major milestone for Gulu and northern Uganda, with leaders in the region long pushing for increased national sports infrastructure investment outside Kampala.
Pece Stadium has remained a key sporting venue in northern Uganda since its establishment in 1959, hosting football matches, athletics competitions and community events over several decades. However, sections of the facility had deteriorated significantly, prompting calls for full redevelopment rather than renovation.
The demolition exercise comes amid broader infrastructure preparations tied to the tournament, including planned upgrades to transport, accommodation and sports facilities across different parts of the country.
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will stage AFCON 2027 in what will be the first time the tournament is hosted in the East African region since 1976.
