Akii-Bua Stadium’s AFCON 2027 dream hinges on final CAF requirements

6 August 2026, 2:37 pm

By Winnie Auma

The government has expressed confidence that the ongoing construction of Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira City will be completed in time to host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), provided all remaining requirements set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are fulfilled.

Speaking in Parliament on 5 August 2026, the Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, said CAF inspectors visited Akii-Bua Stadium and agreed that the facility could host AFCON matches if the government delivers the outstanding infrastructure requirements within the agreed timelines.

He said construction works at the training facilities at Lira University and Gulu are progressing as scheduled and are expected to be completed before December this year.

Ogwang said the stadium contractor is working around the clock to ensure the facility is completed by December, adding that preparations are on course ahead of the continental tournament.

The minister, however, acknowledged concerns over the condition of access roads leading to the stadium, saying road construction falls under the mandate of the Ministry of Works and Transport, not the Ministry of Education and Sports.

On the proposed construction of the Corner Ayer–Corner Aboke–Iceme–Bobi Road, Ogwang revealed that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed him to assess the road together with the contractor currently constructing Akii-Bua Stadium.

He explained that while the assessment has already been carried out, implementation now depends on the Ministry of Finance completing negotiations on government pre-financing for the project.

However, the assurance came after the Member of Parliament for Ajuri County, Fred Jalameso, questioned why major roads leading to Akii-Bua Stadium were omitted from the latest procurement of national road projects by the Ministry of Works.

Jalameso told Parliament that although the government recently invited bids for several road projects, none of the critical access roads serving Akii-Bua Stadium were included. He questioned how the stadium would successfully host AFCON matches if the surrounding road network remains in poor condition.

He specifically cited the Corner Aboke–Bobi Road, which connects to Gulu Airfield and is expected to serve as a key route for visitors arriving by air during the tournament. He also noted that access roads serving training venues such as Pece Stadium in Gulu and Lira University had similarly been left out.

In December 2024, the government contracted SAMCO Company to construct Akii-Bua Stadium, with the project expected to be completed by January 2027.