The race to finish Uganda’s newest sports arena is entering its final stretch. Officials say Hoima City Stadium, a flagship project for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is now more than 92 percent complete, a milestone marked by the recent installation of its running track.
The stadium, located in the heart of Western Uganda’s oil-rich Bunyoro sub-region, has been pitched as a symbol of national ambition. Uganda is preparing to co-host AFCON alongside Kenya and Tanzania, and the Hoima facility is set to be one of the centerpiece venues.
Construction has been spearheaded by SUMMA, a Turkish firm with a track record of delivering large-scale projects on tight deadlines. When the contract was signed, officials projected a December 2025 handover. Now, with visible progress on roofing, advanced lighting systems, and the indoor arena, the company has suggested the stadium may be finished ahead of schedule.
“Hoima City Stadium is a thing of beauty,” the National Council of Sports (NCS) said in a statement, highlighting the “quality and speed of construction” that have drawn regional attention.
Analysts are also watching closely. Africa View Facts, which tracks infrastructure developments across the continent, described the project as “one of the fastest-built stadiums in Africa, on course to be completed in record time and ready to host major international events.”
For residents of Hoima, the stadium represents more than football. Local leaders argue it could reshape the city’s economy, attracting visitors for tournaments and creating jobs in tourism and hospitality. The government has not yet given an exact handover date, but anticipation is building.
When completed, the multi-sports complex will hold tens of thousands of fans and include facilities for athletics, basketball, and other disciplines. Officials hope it will leave a lasting legacy for youth sports in Uganda, particularly in a region often overshadowed by Kampala and other urban centers.
Beyond football, the project is also tied to national pride. Uganda last hosted the continent’s biggest football event in 1974, decades before the sport became the global spectacle it is today. Hosting in 2027 offers a chance to showcase not only the national team but also the country’s infrastructure ambitions.
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Still, questions remain about how the stadium will be maintained once the final whistle of AFCON 2027 is blown. Uganda has struggled with underused facilities in the past, a challenge sports officials say they are working to avoid this time.
As the stands take shape and the floodlights begin to glow, Hoima is preparing for a future on the continental stage. Whether the project is handed over this year or next, the near-completion of the stadium is already reshaping expectations about Uganda’s place in African football.
