Lango Engineers Tour Akii-Bua Olympic Memorial Stadium Construction Site

By Ambrose Ogwang

Lira City, Uganda – A group of skilled engineers from the Lango sub-region, representing the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE) Lira Branch, toured the construction site of the Akii-Bua Olympic Memorial Stadium. This significant project is set to enhance sports facilities in northern Uganda.

The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the stadium's construction progress, discuss technical details with contractors, and promote teamwork between local engineers and the Egyptian construction company, SAMCO National Construction Company, which is managing the project.

Named after Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist, John Akii-Bua, the stadium is designed to meet international standards and will have a capacity of 20,000 spectators. It will serve as one of the main venues for co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Kenya and Tanzania.

During the project's launch earlier this year, Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni highlighted that the stadium would not only nurture sports talent but also stimulate economic growth in the region and improve the image of Lira City.

Leaders from the Lango Parliamentary Group have called on contractors to focus on local employment, aiming for at least 80% of the workforce to consist of professionals from the area, including surveyors and engineers.

After their site visit, the UIPE team expressed optimism about the project's advancement, noting the high-quality workmanship and compliance with international standards. Eng. Sam Opito, chairperson of the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers, conveyed the engineers' satisfaction with the current stage of development. He emphasized the need for ongoing collaboration with the onsite team to share professional knowledge and create opportunities for engineers in Uganda.

“Currently, the team is focused on establishing and pouring the foundation base before erecting the pillars,”

With a budget of $129.7 million (UGX 474 billion) allocated for the project, the stadium is expected to be completed within 20 months. Once finished, it will serve as a symbol of national pride, honoring the legacy of Akii-Bua and fostering sports excellence in Uganda.

Meanwhile, Shara Ajok, human resource officer of Samco thanked the engineering team for dedicating their time to the tour site.

She said such visits inspire them to concentrate on their work.

Ajok said they have a plan to add more labour force at the sites urging youths to prepare for the opportunity which is taking place soon.

Uganda Institute of pressffional engineers, Lira Branch has been engaged in a lot of transformative projects for the people of Lango, last year, the team worked on the document to help address the issue of gabbage management under their proposals of turning Waste in wealth. They also tour Karuma Bridge construction sites before its completion. 

Additionally, the body is also nurturing and helping aspiring engineers to reach professional goals through career mentorship.