The Government of Uganda, under the leadership of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), is steadily transforming northern Uganda through major infrastructure projects—one of the most prominent being the Akii Bua Stadium in Lira City.
Currently at 30% completion, the construction of the stadium is progressing ahead of schedule. While the official completion date is set for January 2027, engineers now project that the facility could be ready by October 2026, a clear sign of efficient project management and strong government oversight.
More than 950 workers are currently employed at the site, with over 90% of them coming from Lira and surrounding districts. This means the stadium is not only being built on local soil but is also putting money directly into local homes—fulfilling the NRM government’s commitment to inclusive growth and job creation.
Most of the construction materials—sand, granite, cement, and steel—are being sourced locally from suppliers in the Lango Sub-region. Only a few specialized materials unavailable in Uganda are imported. This “build local, buy local” approach aligns with the NRM’s policy of empowering Ugandan enterprises and keeping resources circulating within the community.
The project also includes a 60-kilometre access road linking Lira to Gulu Airport through Oboke and Bobi, as well as several feeder roads around the stadium. This new road network will ease travel, boost trade, and enhance tourism across the sub-region—further reinforcing the government’s balanced regional development agenda.
When completed, the Akii Bua Stadium will seat 20,000 spectators, making it one of the largest and most modern arenas in northern Uganda. It will host national sporting events, concerts, and cultural festivals, driving growth in hospitality, transport, and local business.
The stadium is named in honour of John Akii Bua, Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist, who was born in Lango. His legacy continues to inspire a new generation of athletes such as Allan Okello and the Lango football team, recent winners of the FUFA Drum Tournament. The new facility will serve as a breeding ground for future champions and a source of lasting community pride.
Every match and major event held at the stadium will stimulate demand for transport, accommodation, food, and entertainment, creating hundreds of new jobs in the service sector and unlocking opportunities for youth and women entrepreneurs.
For the first time in history, Lango is getting a world-class stadium built by its own people—a powerful symbol of dignity, opportunity, and progress under the NRM’s vision of inclusive development and national transformation.
