Uganda’s President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has reiterated the government’s commitment to using sports infrastructure as a catalyst for economic transformation, youth empowerment, and national unity, as he officially commissioned Hoima City Stadium.
Addressing leaders, sports stakeholders, and residents at the commissioning ceremony of Hoima City Stadium, the President described the stadium as a strategic national investment designed to unlock socio-economic opportunities beyond football. He explained that modern sports facilities stimulate local economies through tourism, job creation, and service industries while simultaneously nurturing discipline and talent among young people.
The President noted that Hoima City Stadium was intentionally constructed in the Albertine region as part of the government’s broader policy of balanced regional development. He emphasized that national infrastructure should not be concentrated in Kampala but spread across the country to ensure inclusive growth.
He observed that sports play a critical role in nation-building, arguing that football and athletics have the unique ability to unite citizens across political, cultural, and social divides.
According to the President, facilities such as Hoima City Stadium should be fully integrated into community life by hosting school competitions, local leagues, and national events.
President Museveni also linked the stadium’s commissioning to Uganda’s preparations to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania, noting that hosting a continental tournament presents Uganda with an opportunity to showcase its stability, hospitality, and organizational capacity to the rest of Africa and the world.
He urged responsible agencies to ensure that the stadium meets international standards of safety, security, and maintenance, warning against mismanagement of public investments. The President stressed that government facilities must be protected and utilized sustainably to generate long-term value.
The Head of State commended the Ministry of Education and Sports, technical teams, contractors, and local leaders for delivering the project, noting that the timely completion of such infrastructure boosts public confidence in government programs.
“I want to thank the first lady and the Ministry of Education for doing an excellent job in implementing this project. As she said, it was a combination of events that caused us to take on this stadium. First of all, because of the Oil in the Bunyoro area, we built more roads here, and an International Airport, the AFCON came in.”
He encouraged young people in the region to view sports not merely as recreation but as a viable career path that can coexist with education and vocational training.
The commissioning of Hoima City Stadium, he concluded, represents a step forward in Uganda’s journey toward becoming a competitive sporting nation while advancing national development objectives.
