Last Updated on: 15th November 2023, 10:51 pm
What you need to know:
- On Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, State Minister for Sports (Ministry of Education and Sports), Peter Ogwang told Lango that Akii Bua won’t host Afcon in 2027.
- MP Ogwang also said Akii Bua would be constructed – but in a phased manner.
- *Lango has rejected the exclusion and asked to meet the President, including a 7-day ultimatum to do away with the directive against Lango sub-region.
- FUFA is being accused of conflict of interest and for playing a role to exclude Akii Bua Stadium in Lira City.
Lira I A verbal war has erupted between the government and football governing body – Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) – tndNews has exclusively learnt.
The war started recently after FUFA informed the government it was ready to construct a new stadium in Hoima City instead of Akii Bua Stadium in Lira City.
According to a source, the land in Hoima is 100 per cent owned by FUFA which has in its custody the land title. “It’s only 11 acres while Akii Bua Stadium land is 48 acres,” a source reveals.
It is worth noting that FUFA is an autonomous body and has little or no influence from the government. Its President is Moses Hassim Magogo (Budiope East, MP) and husband to the Speaker of Parliament.
“FUFA wants the government to buy its land in Hoima to build a stadium. This was rejected by the government because of many reasons.
“One of the reasons is that the government is not ready to do feasibility studies in Hoima when it has done the same and very expensively on Akii Bua Stadium land,” our impeccable source reveals.
For a stadium to be built in Hoima, FUFA will have to hand over its Hoima land title to the government – something the football governing body is not willing to accept – according to a source.
Also read: Bitterness, extraordinary unity as Lango contemplates building Akii Bua Stadium their way
“A letter has been written to FUFA President (and will be public soon) that it (the government) is not ready to develop the land in Hoima unless it (FUFA) hands over their land title.
“Two, the government wants to know why it (FUFA) and some officials want to exclude Akii Bua Stadium from hosting Afcon,” this digital publication has further been told.
One of the top football commentators in Uganda tells tndNews, “Our biggest problem now could be FUFA. It should not start this issue (stadium saga) because of some selfish interest. Akii Bua Stadium and Buhinga Stadium in Fort Portal were among the stadia mentioned in the documents before the government and CAF. Is it because of vested interest?”
Also read: What Lango leaders say on Akii Bua Stadium construction ahead of AFCON2027
On Wednesday, November 15, shortly after Lango Members of Parliament under their body – LPG addressed Journalists at Parliament, among others, giving the government 7 days to reverse its decision to exclude Akii Bua Stadium from hosting Afcon2027, the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among Magogo criticized the Legislators’ move.
This is what she posted on her official X handle:
“Hon. Members, my attention has been drawn to a Press Conference by some Members of Parliament regarding the hosting of AFCON 2027. I urge Members not to speculate about decisions regarding the venues of the Tournament. There are specific requirements by the Confederation of the African Football to qualify hosting venues. The matters being raised by the Members can be addressed as an appropriate platform and not necessarily through a Press Conference.”
“Lango is ready to work with FUFA and the government to settle the Akii Bua Stadium impasse but the Speaker is again coming to scare our leaders. This is not needed,” a senior Lango leader says.
Akii Bua Stadium was one of the resolutions by Lango leaders during their Conference in 2012. In that Conference attended by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Lango demanded the construction of Akii Bua Stadium in glowing memory of Uganda’s first Olympic Gold Medalist – John Akii Bua.
The President accepted the resolutions and made pledges several times. In 2016, the work started but ended with only a cheap pavilion and perimeter wall fence built by a group of generous Lango sons and daughters who said the government was taking too long to finish what it started.
This is a Developing Story.
As Lango family, we can never accept the diversion of AKII BUA STADIUM construction to Hoima. We do not want politics to take the lead on this. Let the Government take her stand on this, otherwise our motto still stands,
“NO AKII BUA, NO VOTES TO NRM, NO AFCON27 IN UGANDA”
FUFA cannot use AKII BUA to lobby for hosting AFCON and again after succeeding they damp building the stadium with the lame excuse of no airfield.
Who should construct the airfield?
Were they blind when they were approving Akiibua stadium that by that time they failed to recognize that there’s no airfield in Lango?
Cede munyede!!!!
No Akiibua,No Afcon