The Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City, Uganda, has reached 85 percent completion, with the contractor targeting January 20, 2027, to finish the remaining works. The US$129 million project, undertaken by SAMCO National Construction Company, is expected to provide a 20,000-seat sporting facility, strengthening the region's capacity to host major sporting competitions and other events. Muhammad Nazih, project manager for SAMCO, announced the progress during a media tour of the facility.
The stadium project is divided into two major zones. Zone One includes the main stadium, entrance facilities, parking areas, and landscaping. Zone Two comprises a mini-arena with an indoor capacity of approximately 2,000 people, a 60-bed hostel, a clubhouse, a swimming pool, and several outdoor sports facilities. The outdoor facilities include five-a-side football pitches, a multi-purpose sports area, tennis courts, and training facilities intended to support athletes and other users.
Construction teams are undertaking the remaining activities simultaneously to ensure completion within the planned timeframe. Nazih explained that outstanding works include final touches on the main stadium, landscaping around the facility, and finishing works on buildings in Zone Two. The main stadium is almost complete, with only the final touches remaining. Teams are now concentrating on finishing works, landscaping, and remaining facilities in Zone Two.
Engineer Emre Erisik of Turkey-based Integral Group, a subcontractor to SAMCO responsible for athletic surfaces and spectator facilities, confirmed the overall project completion rate at 85 percent. He said work had shifted from major installations to cultivating the hybrid grass surface on the main pitch, which comprises 80 percent natural grass and 20 percent artificial fibers. The main pitch was seeded the previous week and is now undergoing irrigation and sunlight monitoring to support grass growth.
Erisik's company is responsible for the main stadium pitch, secondary training pitches, five-a-side football courts, two athletics tracks, spectator seating, changing rooms, and scoreboard installations, as well as PVC flooring, saunas, and squash courts. The supporting facilities are expected to expand the stadium's use beyond major football matches by providing space for training, accommodation, and other sporting activities.
The Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium project is designed to provide a 20,000-seat sporting facility in Lira City, strengthening the region's capacity to host major sporting competitions and other events. The project also includes approximately 1.5 kilometers of perimeter fencing with 23 gates and a 1.8-kilometer ring road around the stadium. The facility is expected to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The contractor is working to complete the remaining works and hand over the project by January 20, 2027. Once completed, the stadium will provide a significant boost to the region's sporting infrastructure, hosting various events and providing facilities for athletes and other users.
Key points
- The Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium construction has reached 85% completion.
- The project is expected to be completed by January 20, 2027.
- The stadium will provide a 20,000-seat sporting facility in Lira City.
