*LIRA* - His Excellency the President of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, have presided over the groundbreaking of the Akii-Bua Stadium and multi-sports complex in Lira City today.

A colorful and lively ceremony graced by Government Chip Whip Hon. Dennis Hamson Obua, Health Minister and Lira City Woman MP Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Gender, Labour and Social Development Minister Hon. Betty Amongi, State Minister for Northern Uganda Hon. Kenneth Olusegun Omona, and State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang who doubled as the vibrant Director of Programmes, took place at a site that has all been cleared by Egyptian contractors M/S SAMCO since it was handed over to them by NCS on Christmas Eve.

Also present were several area Members of Parliament, religious, cultural, local area political, technical and administrative leaders, as well as a mammoth crowd of excited and vociferous locals, cheering on this major milestone of Lango.

The client, NCS, was represented by a team led by Board Chairperson Ambrose Tashobya, Board Members Moses Anyii Omara, Cecilia Anyakoit and Piloya Evelyn Gloria, General Secretary Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel and his techincal team from the secretariat. They were in the company of the supervising consultants from Ministry of Works and Transport, led by Architect Andrew Nsamba and Project Manager Eng. Julius Tayebwa.

To reiterate, the $129 million project, to be completed within 20 months, will have:
1. A 20,000-seater main stadium.
2. ⁠An athletics track.
3. ⁠A full-sized football field with at least two changing rooms.
4. ⁠A 2,000-seat multi-sport indoor stadium.
5. ⁠A 25-meter semi Olympic-sized swimming pool.
6. ⁠Outdoor courts for basketball, netball, volleyball, and badminton.
7. ⁠A 1,000-vehicle parking facility.
8. ⁠Full state-of-the-art ICT capabilities.
9. ⁠A 60-bed hostel.

Akii-Bua is the second mega multi-sports complex whose construction has got underway in this new era of sports infrastructural development, after Hoima City Stadium. The two come right on the back of the completion of renovation of Mandela National Stadium Namboole, and the construction of the National High Altitude Training Centre in Teryet, Kapchorwa.