Government of Uganda earlier today signed Memorandums of Agreement (MoA) with both the universities of Gulu and Lira, for the construction of training grounds.
As a CAF prerequisite, stadiums only really qualify as hosts for major continental tournaments when they have four training grounds 'attached' to them, and for the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium currently under construction in Lira City, that purpose would be served by Gulu University, Lira University, Pece Stadium and the ground at the stadium itself.
To that effect, the National Council of Sports (NCS) officially signed MoAs with Gulu and Lira universities at both campuses, with NCS Board Chairman Ambrose Tashobya and General Secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel putting pen to paper on behalf of government, while the Vice Chancellors Prof. George Ladaah Openjuru (Gulu) and Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng (Lira) did the honours for two universities. To witness the signing were NCS Senior Legal Officer Diana Kwesiga and the legal teams at each university.
Also present at both ceremonies were NCS Board Members Piloya Evelyn Gloria, Moses Anyii Omara, Hajji Zubair Galiwango, Cecilia Anyakoit and the legendary Stephen Kiprotich, NCS top managers Joseph Oluga (Ass. GS), Milton Chebet (Ass. GS), and Ivan Mugowa (SAO), as well as the local political and administrative leadership of both cities.
The NCS work mission also included an engagement with the Gulu District Local Government, during which Chairman Tashobya clarified on the requirement of transferring Pece Stadium land (and indeed all other such earmarked facilities) to government before any work can be done on them, in accordance with provisions in the National Sports Act of 2023. The Gulu Local Goverment in turn committed to expediting the process of transfer of the land.
Development of these training grounds is expected to kick off before the end of January 2026, and will be executed by the UPDF Engineering Brigade under Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. The construction will be supervised by the Ministry of Works and Transport as lead consultants.
Uganda, joint hosts of AFCON 2027 with neighbours Kenya and Tanzania, continue with preparationa in earnest as they look to stage a truly memorable tournament next year. The chairman NCS who also doubles as the chairman Infrastructure committee said that the works are to be completed by the end of June.