Turkish Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Mehmet Fatih, has hailed Hoima City Stadium as a symbol of ambition, partnership, and a shared vision for the future.
Speaking on Wednesday at the stadium’s commissioning, Ambassador Fatih described the facility as “more than steel and concrete,” emphasising that it reflects the strength of Turkish-Ugandan relations and the professionalism of Turkish construction firms.
Built by the Turkish company SUMMA International Construction Company Inc., the project employed thousands of Ugandans who worked alongside Turkish engineers, facilitating significant skills and technology transfer.
Summa Construction Chairman, Mr. Selim Bora, noted that completing the stadium in just 12 months was made possible through disciplined planning and extraordinary dedication, despite facing over 150 days of heavy rainfall during construction. “More than 2,500 people contributed to this project, 80 percent of them Ugandans. This is not just infrastructure—it is capacity building and human capital development,” he said.
State Minister for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, described Hoima City Stadium as one of the best-executed government projects in recent years. He traced its origins to early 2023, when President Museveni introduced Summa to the Ministry of Education and Sports to plan phased sports infrastructure development, initially focusing on Lugogo Sports Complex.
“When CAF announced in September 2023 that Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania had won the AFCON hosting rights, priorities shifted, and Hoima City Stadium became the starting point,” Hon. Ogwang explained. He added that public feedback had been overwhelmingly positive, citing transparency and regular public access to the construction site as key factors.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, cultural leaders, and thousands of football fans from across the country.
