“Lango Akii Bua Stadium roads”: Museveni orders release of funds

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued an order for the immediate release of funds for road construction and the upgrade of the airfield required to enable Akii-Bua Stadium to host the AFCON 2027 tournament.

The President’s order was made on Wednesday in Kyankwanzi, where NRM Members of Parliament are currently undergoing a retreat.

Museveni’s reaction followed a presentation by the General Secretary of the Lango Parliamentary Group also Kole North MP Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, who informed Museveni that CAF had designated Akii Bua as a “backup” stadium.

Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti stated that there has been growing concern in Lango after reports surfaced that Akii Bua was no longer among the primary venues for AFCON, leaving only Namboole and Hoima as the confirmed match venues.

He explained that, as of now, critical infrastructure such as the road network, major hotels, and the airfield have not been upgraded, yet the people of Lango are relying on this opportunity to boost local tourism and development.

Dr. Opio Acuti emphasised that Lango deserves this reward from the NRM government, noting that the sub-region has consistently voted for the party and expects the Akii Bua-AFCON dream to be fulfilled.

In response, President Museveni summoned the Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, to explain why Akii Bua was not listed among the primary venues for the 2027 tournament.

In his explanation, Peter Ogwang told Museveni that he had previously submitted a request for the President’s signature to release funds for the construction of the Aboke-Iceme-Ngai-Bobi road and the Gulu airfield, but this has not yet been processed.

He stated that the reason Akii Bua was placed on “standby” was due to the lack of adequate roads, an airfield, and five-star hotels, all of which require significant funding to be completed on time.

Minister Ogwang clarified that designating Akii Bua as a backup stadium means it can still host AFCON matches, but CAF does not apply the same strict requirements to it as they do for primary venues like Namboole and Hoima.

He further noted that other works are already underway, such as the construction of training facilities at Lira University, Gulu University, and Pece Stadium, as funds for these projects are already available.

They are continuously monitoring these three sites to ensure they are completed in time for the tournament, Ogwang told the President.

Following this, President Museveni gave a final directive to his private secretary to bring the necessary documents for his signature immediately, so that the construction of the Aboke-Iceme-Ngai-Bobi road and the Gulu airfield can begin to support Akii Bua’s AFCON bid.

However, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba, told journalists in Kampala that the massive funds required for the road to Akii Bua, the airfield, and the stadium construction itself are currently unavailable.

He stated that the focus remains on the two primary projects—Namboole and Hoima—a statement that has caused disappointment among many people in Lango sub-region.