Kole District Chairman Blames Government for Akii Bua Stadium Delays

Kole District | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Kole District Chairman and Vice President of the Uganda Local Government Association for Northern Uganda, Andrew Moses Awany, expressed deep frustration regarding the prolonged delays in the construction of Akii Bua Stadium. The government had attributed the sluggish progress to financial constraints. Awany Moses, during a press conference held in Lira City, criticized the NRM government for what he perceived as a lack of commitment to supporting developmental projects in the Lango region.

Awany pointed to the stalled construction of the Lango Cultural Palace, a meager 3% coverage in road construction, and the ongoing delays in completing Akii Bua Stadium as examples of the government’s apparent neglect of the Lango region’s development needs. He underscored the potential economic benefits the stadium could bring, particularly if it were to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.

Expressing his discontent, Awany issued a veiled threat, suggesting that if President Museveni and the ruling government failed to expedite the construction of Akii Bua Stadium, he would consider withdrawing support from the NRM government, citing marginalization of the people of Lango in terms of development as the primary reason.

In a proactive move, Awany called upon the residents of Lango to contribute funds independently for the construction of Akii Bua Stadium, envisioning it as a means to not only address the delays but also potentially secure the hosting of AFCON games in the region. To kickstart this initiative, he personally contributed one million shillings towards the cause.

Furthermore, Awany issued a stern ultimatum, giving the government a 20-day window to provide a satisfactory explanation to the people of Lango regarding the prolonged delays and the reasons behind the government’s inability to promptly complete the Akii Bua Stadium.

In April of this year, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang revealed that the Chinese government had withdrawn its financial support for the construction of Akii Bua Stadium. Minister Ogwang, who also serves as the Usuk County MP, urged parliament to allocate funds for stadium construction domestically, emphasizing the need to reduce reliance on foreign financing. The government’s silence on the matter has sparked concerns, prompting more voices to join the discussion.

State Minister for Finance Amos Lugolobi disclosed that on March 30, 2023, during the Forum for China Africa Cooperation in Dakar, Senegal, the Chinese government officially announced its decision not to finance the construction of Akii Bua Stadium. Minister Lugolobi added that alternative funding sources would be explored for the stadium’s construction.

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