Development of the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira Metropolis has reached 85 %, with the Shs470 billion mission coming into its ultimate part forward of a scheduled handover on January 2, 2027.
The stadium is among the many services Uganda is getting ready for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which the nation will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
Eng. Mohammed Nazih, mission supervisor at SAMCO Nationwide Development Firm, mentioned the primary stadium is now largely full after development started on Could 3, 2025, beneath a 20-month contract.
“The principle stadium construction is almost completed, requiring solely ultimate touches,” Nazih mentioned.
The remaining works are being dealt with concurrently as contractors race towards time to satisfy the January handover date.
Richard Takatamoe, a advisor with the Ministry of Works and Transport, expressed confidence that the mission might be delivered on schedule, noting that groups are engaged on completely different sections on the identical time to avoid wasting time.
Akii-Bua Stadium will accommodate 20,000 spectators and have an athletics monitor, coaching pitches and altering rooms.
The broader advanced will even embody a 2,000-seat indoor enviornment, a 25-metre swimming pool, tennis courts and out of doors services for basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton. The mission additionally features a 1.8-kilometre ring street, perimeter fencing with 23 gates and parking for as much as 1,000 autos.
Consideration has now shifted to the taking part in surfaces, with the primary pitch already seeded and present process common irrigation and upkeep.
Eng. Emre Frisik of Turkey-based Integral Group, the corporate dealing with the athletic surfaces and spectator services, mentioned the main focus has moved from development to nurturing the hybrid taking part in floor.
“With the bodily development of the pitches completed, the first focus has shifted to upkeep, which entails the cautious cultivation of the hybrid grass system,” Frisik mentioned.
The pitch combines 80 % pure grass and 20 % synthetic fibres, a system designed to enhance sturdiness and efficiency. The principle pitch and scoreboard had been reported to be full as of October 27.
The progress has additionally impressed residents who’ve visited the power.
Lira Metropolis resident William Achol mentioned the event had gone past the primary stadium, with a number of supporting services taking form.
“I’ve regarded on the soccer pitch, I’ve regarded on the seating preparations, I’ve additionally sat on a few of these seats,” Achol mentioned.
He added that the supporting services may present further income for the advanced past AFCON 2027.
With the primary construction nearing completion and the taking part in surfaces now being ready, the main focus shifts to ending the remaining works earlier than Akii-Bua Stadium is handed over in January, forward of its anticipated function in Uganda’s AFCON 2027 preparations.
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