Just like the legend himself cleared hurdles over 400 meters, so have Egyptian firm SAMCO built the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium so named in his memory.
Having started their familiarization tour of sports infrastructure at the National High Altitude Centre in Teryet Kapchorwa the day before, the Committee of Parliament on Education and Sports hit the road for Lira City and, joy and behold, the newest of Uganda's super sports complexes appeared before them in it's gigantic splendour.
Led by their Vice Chairman Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho, the Parliamenterians were taken on a guided tour of the facility by the SAMCO engineers and NCS General Secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel, with NCS Board members Moses Anyii Omara (for Chairman), Piloya Evelyn Gloria and Cecilia Anyakoit, as well NCS Top Management, the area leadership and other stakeholders in close tow.
The Committee members were left impressed by speed and quality of work done by SAMCO who have attained an awe-inspiring 82% completion of the multi-faceted project that includes the main 20,000 seater stadium with pitch and running track, outside training pitch with running track too, two 5-a-side artifical turf pitches with their own changing rooms, a club house, 60-bed hostel, indoor arena and swimming pool, and attendant parking lot.
Having been struck not only by the sheer size and beauty of the project but also it's econimc potential, the Committee challenged NCS to ensure that the facility remains well maintained and in regular use for the sporting and commercial benefit of the people of Lango and Uganda, beyond AFCON 2027.
The MPs were concerned that the training grounds of Lira, Pece Stadium and Gulu University had not progressed at the same pace as the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium they are supposed to serve, but they received assurances from the UPDF Engineering Brigade that, despite having started later and faced several chsllenges, those grounds would be ready in their respective stipulated times.
This morning the Committee inspects the King George Stadium training ground in Masindi, before proceeding to Sir Tito Winy, Hoima Boma Ground and ultimately the already-complete-and-in-use Hoima City Stadium.