Kole North Member of Parliament, Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, has again questioned the government during the Prime Minister’s time on October 1 over why the upgrading of access roads linking to Akii Bua Olympic Stadium is becoming a “volcanic issue.”

Dr Opio Acuti raised concerns that AFCON roads such as Corner Ayer, Corner Aboke, and Iceme-Bobi Road have not been considered.

He was responding to a matter raised by the Minister of Works and Transport, who stated that Gulu Airfield is going to be upgraded and that funds have already been allocated for that purpose.

Dr Acuti raised a question about why the connecting roads from Gulu to Lira, which are AFCON roads, have been left out.

“The issue of Akii Bua Olympic Stadium has been raised before and was excluded last time, and it is now becoming a volcanic issue,” Kole North MP told the House.

He requested the intervention of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Works over this matter, citing that all access roads to Mandela National Stadium Namboole and Hoima City Stadium have been considered.

“Akii Bua Stadium is like a family where one set of children has bought new shoes, while the other children have been told to continue moving barefoot,” he said.

He told Parliamentarians that the Lango-based Stadium is also ready to host the tournament like other stadiums, without any segregation in the development of this country.

Still on access roads, MP Dr Opio added that the government needs to fast-track the process, arguing that road construction should by now be progressing in preparation for the continental tournament.

Premier Robinah Nabbanja made a response, saying President Museveni Kaguta has guided them.

“At the beginning, the government had no money for the construction of Gulu Airfield, but now money has been identified, and some work is going to take place at Gulu Airfield to welcome the preparations for AFCON 2027,” she said.

Also read: MP Acuti to govt: ‘If Akii Bua OS is to serve as a standby stadium for AFCON, equip it with supporting infrastructure’

Nabbanja added that, as a government, they still have a challenge of identifying funds for that stretch of roads across Lango, but confirmed that money has been allocated for hotels in Lira City and Gulu City for an upgrade to international standards.

Funding for the construction of the access or linking roads, she said, has not yet been secured.

Nabbanja urged local leaders to continue engaging the government as efforts to secure funding continue.