Allegations of misconduct and broken promises are brewing around the construction project of the Hoima City Stadium, with several local suppliers raising concerns about unpaid dues and unfulfilled agreements involving Members of Parliament.
Sources indicate that the controversy centers on a group of politicians who allegedly played key roles in awarding service contracts linked to the stadium construction. According to local accounts, Hon. Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Sports, reportedly met with Hon. Orone Derrick (Gogonyo County, Pallisa District) and Hon. Aeku Patrick (Soroti County) at Kabalega Resort in Hoima. During this meeting, agreements were allegedly made to assign the supply of hardcore materials, culverts, Getexile, and fuel to specific individuals and companies from the region.
These deals gave local suppliers hope of benefiting from the multi-billion shilling stadium project. However, after the contracts were fulfilled and the project reached completion, things reportedly took a turn.
Hon. Orone Derrick and Hon. Aeku Patrick allegedly left Hoima without honoring their financial commitments to the local suppliers. Since September 2024, multiple attempts by these suppliers to reach the MPs have reportedly been met with silence—or, in some cases, threats. The MPs allegedly warned those pursuing payment to back off, claiming they were acting on behalf of Minister Peter Ogwang.
When asked about his involvement, Hon. Ogwang denied any direct participation in the contractual dealings and promised to follow up with the implicated MPs. However, this promise has yet to yield visible results, according to local sources.
What has further fueled tensions is the belief that the implicated MPs are leveraging their positions in Parliament to evade accountability. “They are using the law to protect themselves, but we have all the evidence and support we need,” one frustrated supplier said on condition of anonymity.
Local leaders and civil society groups are now calling for transparency and for the Parliament of Uganda to investigate the matter thoroughly. They argue that failure to hold those responsible accountable will undermine public trust in government-led development initiatives.
As the situation develops, many are watching closely to see if justice will prevail—or if political privilege will once again trump the rights of ordinary citizens.
