A new heartbeat is forming in Northern Uganda. While Kampala and Hoima have stolen headlines, Lira is quietly building something bold: the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium, a modern sporting complex that promises to be one of the region’s most surprising showpieces when AFCON 2027 arrives.
From Groundbreaking to Momentum
The stadium’s story began in earnest when President Yoweri Museveni turned the first sod in January 2025, launching a partnership with Egyptian builders SAMCO National Construction. The project stumbled early with land title and procurement snags, but those hurdles have been cleared and momentum has returned. Today the site hums with activity and sits roughly 30 percent complete, a tangible sign that Lira’s long-awaited arena is moving from blueprint to reality.
A Multi-Purpose Arena Built to Roar
This is not just a football pitch. The Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium is being conceived as a multi-sport, multi-event destination. At its heart will be a 20,000-seat main stadium ringed by a tartan athletics track. Around it, planners are fitting training grounds, changing rooms, and a spectator piazza designed to pulse with fans on match day.
Inside the complex, a 2,000-seat indoor arena will host basketball, volleyball, and other indoor sports. A semi-Olympic 25-meter pool, outdoor courts for netball and badminton, and conference halls for conventions and community events will make the venue useful year-round. Parking for up to 1,000 vehicles and modern training facilities round out a design that aims to serve athletes and citizens alike.
Honouring a Legend
The stadium carries a name heavy with national pride. John Akii-Bua, Lira’s own Olympic champion and Uganda’s first gold medalist, inspired the project. His 400-meter hurdles triumph in 1972 remains a touchstone of Ugandan sporting history, and the new stadium is intended as a living tribute to that legacy.
A $125 Million Investment in Community and Sport
With a projected cost of $125 million, the Akii-Bua complex is more than infrastructure. It is an investment in regional development, tourism, and youth sport. When AFCON 2027 brings continental attention to Uganda, Lira will be ready to welcome visitors, athletes, and the kind of electric atmosphere that turns stadiums into stories.
What AFCON Fans Can Expect
Expect a compact, modern venue that blends athletics and football, local culture and international standards. Expect crowds, color, and the kind of underdog energy that makes lesser-known venues suddenly unforgettable. By the time the tournament kicks off, Akii-Bua could be the surprise stage where new memories are made and a northern city takes its place on Africa’s sporting map.
