Hoima City Stadium Handed Over to NCS Ahead of President Museveni Commissioning

Ahead of its grand commissioning by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Christmas Eve, the Hoima City Stadium has been officially handed over to the National Council of Sports (NCS), marking a major milestone in Uganda’s sports infrastructure journey.

The iconic multi-sports complex was formally transferred on Tuesday by contractors SUMMA, clearing the final hurdle before the Head of State’s historic commissioning ceremony.

NCS, the government body mandated to manage and oversee all national sports facilities, received the stadium in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Ministry of Works and Transport, the project’s supervising consultants.

The technical handover was presided over by the Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports, Rev. Canon Dr Duncans Mugumya, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Dr Kedrace Turyagenda.

During the ceremony, the Ministry of Works Commissioner for Public Structures, Eng. Edward Ssimbwa—standing in for Permanent Secretary Waiswa Bageya—presented SUMMA with a certificate of completion, officially affirming the project’s successful delivery.

SUMMA Project Manager Murat Altun had earlier taken NCS officials and representatives from various ministries, departments and agencies on a comprehensive tour of the facility, showcasing its world-class components.

The formal handover was sealed when Altun presented the project instruments to NCS Board Chairperson Ambrose Tashobya.

Tashobya was flanked by fellow board members Moses Omara Anyii, Hajji Zubair Galiwango, Stephen Kiprotich, Piloya Evelyn Gloria and Cecilia Anyakoit, alongside NCS General Secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel and the council’s top management team.

In their remarks, Dr Mugumya, Tashobya and Dr Ogwel expressed profound appreciation to President Museveni and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, for their unwavering commitment, oversight and full financial backing that turned the Hoima Stadium dream into reality.

The trio also lauded Turkish firm SUMMA for its exceptional efficiency, speed and quality, delivering the $129 million signature project an impressive five months ahead of the scheduled 18-month timeline. Special commendation was extended to Project Manager Eng. Ivan Gombya and the Ministry of Works engineering team for their diligent supervision.

The handover was witnessed by several dignitaries, including Special Presidential Assistant for Education and Sports Gunter Lange, Assistant Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports Sammy Odongo, officials from various government MDAs, and Hoima City leaders led by Resident City Commissioner Badru Mugabi and Mayor Brian Kaboyo.

With the handover complete, the stage is now set for President Museveni to officially commission the picturesque Hoima City Stadium on Wednesday, amid a packed programme of sporting activities and celebrations expected to usher in a memorable Christmas for Uganda’s sports fraternity and the nation at large.