Before 1986, Uganda’s sporting landscape was stark. The country had several playing grounds, but only one facility that truly deserved to be called a stadium – the War Memorial Stadium at Nakivubo. Everything else fell short of international standards.
Fast forward four decades and the picture could not be more different.
Today, Uganda boasts two major public international-standard stadiums the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole and the newly constructed Hoima Stadium alongside the privately owned St. Mary’s Stadium, Kitende.
Supporting these are smaller but vital facilities such as Fufa Stadium, Kadiba, the Fufa Technical Centre in Njeru (built with Fifa funding) and the refurbished Wankulukuku Stadium. Still in the pipeline are the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City and the Philip Omondi Stadium in Lugogo, under construction by Kampala Capital City Authority.
This is the short version of a stadium infrastructure boom that has unfolded under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government led by President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni.
But how did it all begin?
The birth of Namboole
The idea of a modern national sports complex dates back to 1968 during Milton Obote’s first term. Political instability and funding constraints, however, meant the plan survived six regimes without materializing.
That changed after the NRM came to power on January 26, 1986.
In 1987, the government identified and acquired 147 acres on Namboole Hill. A year later, on December 14, 1988, Uganda signed an agreement with China for a $24 million interest-free loan to construct the stadium, a figure that later rose to approximately $36 million due to inflation and delays.
Construction, led by Chinese experts, began in 1993 and was completed in 1997. The Mandela National Stadium was officially opened on January 26, 1999, marking 13 years of NRM rule. A year earlier, South African icon Nelson Mandela visited the site alongside President Museveni, thanking Uganda for honouring his legacy by naming the facility after him.
More than just football
Although Namboole has hosted rugby and athletics, football has been the biggest beneficiary. The stadium has served as the home of the Uganda Cranes and a central venue for the Uganda Premier League.
Yet the NRM government’s infrastructure drive has extended beyond football.
In 2012, Stephen Kiprotich’s historic Olympic marathon gold in London captured the nation and the President’s attention. Museveni pledged to build a high-altitude training centre in Kapchorwa and a decade later, he delivered.
The state-of-the-art Kapchorwa High Altitude Training Centre, completed at a cost of over Shs29b, sits 2,500 metres above sea level on 45 hectares. Commissioned by the President alongside First Lady and Education and Sports Minister Janet Museveni, the facility features an artificial turf track, athletics track, field facilities, hostels and auxiliary amenities.
Afcon 2027 bonanza
In 2022, when CAF opened bidding for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, FUFA President Eng. Moses Magogo made a bold move. Alongside Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda submitted a joint bid, one that required unprecedented political backing.
President Museveni personally engaged his Kenyan and Tanzanian counterparts and unlocked the funding needed to make the bid credible. This triggered Phase II renovations of Namboole, which was upgraded to international standards and went on to host the highest number of matches during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Phase III is now underway. Once complete, Namboole will expand from 39,000 to 60,000 seats and include a four-star hotel, a multi-purpose indoor arena, a retractable roof, an Olympic-size swimming pool and state-of-the-art VIP lounges.
Beyond Kampala, the Afcon push has delivered two new stadiums. The 20,000-seater Hoima Stadium was commissioned on December 24, 2025 after a record 12-month construction period by Turkish firm Summa at a cost of about $130 million. It features hybrid turf, Var technology and an indoor arena.
In Lira City, construction of the 20,000-seater Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium was launched on January 29, 2025 at an estimated cost of Shs470b, with completion expected by the end of the year. The complex will include an eight-lane running track, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a 2,000-seat indoor arena and parking for over 1,000 vehicles.
Training facilities in Wankulukuku and Kyambogo University have also been upgraded ahead of Afcon 2027.
Money, law and structure
President Museveni long argued that once peace was secured, the government would invest heavily in sports and tourism. That promise has been matched with funding.
In just five years, the sports budget has surged from Shs17b in FY 2020/21 to over Shs508b in FY 2025/26. Government now fully supports national teams, alongside awarding bonuses and incentives to athletes.
To cement these gains, the President signed the National Sports Act, 2023 into law, repealing the outdated 1964 legislation. The Act establishes a strengthened National Council of Sports, protects land designated for sports, creates an independent National Anti-Doping Organisation and introduces a structured athlete rewards scheme.