The government has maintained restrictions on the use of Hoima City Stadium ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), turning down a request by Kitara FC to host its domestic league matches at the facility.
Minister of State for Education and Sports in charge of Sports, Peter Ogwang, told Parliament that the stadium’s playing surface requires careful management to ensure it remains in good condition for the continental tournament.
His response followed a request by Hoima West MP Ismail Kasule, who asked the government to consider granting the club temporary access to the stadium, arguing that its current home ground was inadequate for competitive football.
The issue was raised during Prime Minister’s Time in Parliament on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Kasule said Kitara FC needed a suitable venue for its league fixtures and asked the minister to consider the club’s request while observing the necessary safety and operational standards.
He also presented receipts indicating that the club had previously made payments for using Hoima City Stadium, prompting questions about how access to the facility had been handled.
Ogwang defended the restrictions, explaining that the stadium’s hybrid pitch was not designed to accommodate multiple matches every week.
According to the minister, technical guidance from the facility’s builders recommends limiting use of the playing surface to one match per week to allow it to remain in suitable condition.
He warned that increasing the number of fixtures could accelerate wear and tear, particularly at a time when Uganda and its co-hosts, Kenya and Tanzania, are preparing to stage AFCON 2027.
Ogwang said the pitch was already experiencing excessive use, making it necessary to control access as preparations for the tournament continue.
He also disclosed that he had written to the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), asking it to reconsider its position concerning Kitara FC’s access to its usual home ground for domestic competitions.
Although the minister did not completely rule out future use of Hoima City Stadium by the club, he said applications would be assessed individually.
He made it clear, however, that the government would not permit the facility to host two, three or four matches a week.
The position leaves Kitara FC facing continued uncertainty over access to the stadium as it seeks a suitable venue for its domestic campaign.
The debate took another turn when Ogwang questioned payments reportedly amounting to Shs90 million that Kasule presented to Parliament.
The documents included two payments of Shs30 million each, dated September 8, 2026, alongside another general receipt dated September 17, 2026.
Ogwang questioned the authority under which the payments were made and whether the money had been properly received and accounted for by the government.
He said the National Council of Sports (NCS) board had not authorised anyone to grant permission for the stadium’s use, raising concerns about who approved the arrangement and established the charges.
The minister pledged to investigate the transactions to establish who authorised the payments, how the fees were determined and whether the funds were properly remitted.
“So, who determined the price? So these are the questions now, I am going to carry out the investigation,” Ogwang said.
The inquiry could clarify the circumstances under which Kitara FC reportedly paid to use the stadium and whether the procedures governing access to the public facility were followed.
No conclusion has been established regarding any wrongdoing in connection with the reported payments.
Ogwang also revealed that the government plans to engage an international management company to operate Hoima City Stadium after AFCON 2027, with the aim of improving its management and generating revenue.
The proposed arrangement signals the government’s intention to make the facility commercially sustainable beyond the continental tournament.
For now, the dispute highlights the challenge of balancing the needs of local football clubs with the protection of public sports infrastructure ahead of a major international competition.
While Kitara FC is seeking a reliable venue for its league matches, the government insists that preserving the stadium’s playing surface remains essential as preparations for AFCON 2027 gather pace.
