The Parliamentary Health Committee has recommended that Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Aboke and Dokolo Health Centre IVs be allocated shs40 billion to prepare for the inclusion of Akii Bua Stadium as a backup stadium for AFCON 2027.
Speaking to tndNews, Uganda, on Friday, the vice chairperson of the health committee, Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kole North, said the committee has further recommended that Hoima Regional Referral Hospital be allocated an additional shs13.5 billion to fully prepare for AFCON 2027.
According to MP Acuti, Aboke Health Centre IV was recommended because the corner-Aboke road via Iceme to Bobi road will be used to transport players, while Dokolo Health Centre IV, located on the highway, can support Lira Regional Referral Hospital in the event it becomes overstretched.
The committee was also informed that in preparation to host AFCON, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital was allocated shs26.5 billion against the required shs40 billion for Buseruka Health Centre.
This is contained in the report of the Sectoral Committee on Health on the ministerial policy statement and budget estimates for the Financial Year 2026/2027.
On Friday March 12, 2026, the Ministerial Policy Statement and the Annual Development Programme for FY 2026/2027 were laid and referred to the Sectoral Committee on Health for consideration in accordance with Section 12(13) of the Public Finance Management Act, Cap 171, and Rule 156 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
Consequently, the committee considered and reviewed the policy statement and budget estimates on the health component of the Human Capital Development agenda.
The committee observed that the discussions focused on assessing the health sector’s readiness to handle medical emergencies during AFCON matches, which are expected to be hosted in both Lira and Hoima.
“These hospitals will be central in managing emergencies during AFCON, but they still face serious gaps,” the report noted.
In recent engagements with the hospital directors of both Lira and Hoima, the MPs on the health committee learned that each facility requires at least dhs40 billion to address critical service delivery gaps.
The directors explained that the challenges include staffing shortages, limited ambulance services, unreliable power supply, and inadequate specialized care capacity.
During the meeting, the committee noted that Hoima RRH has only one ambulance, yet the nearby stadium is expected to host over 20,000 fans. Presenting his report, the acting hospital director of Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga, indicated that the facility had been allocated shs26.5 billion for AFCON preparation, but to meet the required standard, a total of shs40 billion is needed.
According to Dr. Andrew Odur, director of Lira Regional Referral Hospital, the currently available infrastructure needs a facelift and expansion to sufficiently meet medical needs during the tournament.
The committee was shocked to learn that, although Akii Bua Stadium will equally host AFCON matches, no funds have yet been allocated to Lira Regional Referral Hospital, based on the hospital director’s testimony.
Dr. Odur added that the discussion focused on assessing the health sector’s readiness to handle medical emergencies during AFCON matches expected to be hosted in both Lira City and Hoima City.
Dr. Ibrahim Bwaga revealed that Hoima RRH requires at least shs40 billion to address critical service delivery gaps. Dr. Acuti explained that the challenges include staffing shortages, limited ambulance services, unreliable power supply, and inadequate specialized care capacity.
He added that the facility currently experiences regular power blackouts, and construction of the hospital complex has stalled, leading to congestion. He said an additional shs14 billion is needed to adequately prepare the hospital for AFCON, noting that the hospital’s X-ray equipment is not operational, yet sports injuries necessitate fully functional medical equipment.
Dr. Acuti emphasized that preparedness must extend beyond referral hospitals to include Health Centre IVs and general hospitals, which will support referrals during the tournament.
He pointed out that the Lango sub-region remains particularly constrained, with only Apac General Hospital serving the area. To adequately prepare both the Lango and Bunyoro sub-regions, he said a combined investment of approximately shs100 billion is needed.
Uganda will host Africa Cup of Nations matches at three venues: Mandela National Stadium (40,000+ capacity, under upgrade), and the newly built Hoima City Stadium and Akii Bua Stadium (about 20,000 seats each). The venues highlight Uganda’s co-hosting role and the need for strong medical preparedness around them.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, during the NRM MPs’ Leaders’ Retreat at Kyankwanzi, Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti, Member of Parliament for Kole North in the 11th and 12th Parliaments, told the President that they have received information indicating Akii Bua Stadium will not be part of AFCON.
He noted that critical infrastructure such as the corners of Ayer and Aboke, the Iceme-to-Bobi road, and Gulu Airfield—which is supposed to be upgraded—along with accommodation facilities that had been promised, have not been considered in the project.
President Museveni immediately ordered the release of funds for road construction and the upgrade of the airfield required to enable Akii Bua Stadium to host the AFCON 2027 tournament.
He directed his Private Secretary to bring the necessary documents for his signature so that works on corner Aboke via Iceme to Bobi, and Gulu Airfield, can begin to support Akii Bua for AFCON.
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