During the scrutiny of the Budget Framework Paper for the Ministry of Education and Sports on January 16, 2024, members of the Budget Committee emphasized the urgency of prioritizing the construction of Akii-Bua Stadium. The Committee, chaired by John Ntamuhiira, called for an additional allocation of Shs100 billion from the Ministry of Finance to the National Council of Sports to facilitate the construction of Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira and Buhinga Stadium in Kabarole.

Ntamuhiira explained that, following the government’s inability to secure a grant from the Republic of China for the construction of the two regional stadiums, it is imperative for the government to secure funding to ensure their completion. Both stadiums are crucial components of the PAMOJA bid, where Uganda is set to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2027 with Kenya and Tanzania.

Despite the importance of Akii-Bua Stadium in the PAMOJA bid, concerns were raised during the session. Paul Omara urged the committee to unequivocally prioritize Akii-Bua and Hoima as stadiums for construction, emphasizing their significance for AFCON 2027. Maxwell Akora expressed concerns about the cost disparities, pointing out that the 15,000-seater Hoima Stadium is estimated at Shs380 billion, while the 30,000-seater Akii-Bua Stadium is estimated at Shs180 billion.

The Education Committee’s recommendations also include a provision of Shs110 billion for the construction of 11 training grounds for the 2027 AFCON games. Additionally, Ntamuhiira proposed an extra Shs114 billion to cover commitment fees under the PAMOJA bid, essential for Uganda’s compliance with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements and to prevent the revocation of the AFCON bid.