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Hoima, Uganda | URN | Despite tight security, there was excitement among football fans and residents of the Bunyoro sub-region as Hoima City Stadium prepared to host its first-ever international football match. Uganda Cranes take on Libya in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixture this afternoon.
The match marks a significant moment for football in the region and another milestone in Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 AFCON tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
Both the Uganda Cranes and the Libyan national team arrived at Kabalega International Airport in Hoima District on Sunday ahead of the highly anticipated encounter. Although Uganda has already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 AFCON as one of the host nations, the Cranes are participating in the qualifiers to maintain competitive readiness ahead of the tournament.
For football enthusiasts in Bunyoro, however, the fixture represents much more than a qualifying match. Geofrey Tumwesige, a resident of Hoima City, says the match is writing a new chapter in the region’s football history, and describes the fixture as a landmark moment, particularly because it gives residents an opportunity to watch the national team compete on home soil.
Joseph Kirumira says he is excited to see the first international match played at Hoima City Stadium, describing the occasion as one that residents should not miss.
For Michael Akugizibwe, the fixture presents a golden opportunity for Bunyoro to host an international football spectacle. He has called on residents to turn up in large numbers and support the Uganda Cranes, whom he described as the home team for the occasion.
Another football fan, Rogers Ahumuza, says Ugandans should embrace the historic occasion. He applauded the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) for selecting Hoima City Stadium as the venue for the long-awaited fixture.
The match is also being seen as an important step in the decentralisation of national-team football in Uganda. It is the first competitive international fixture involving the Uganda Cranes to be played outside the Kampala metropolitan area, apart from matches played under the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) competitions.
Hoima City Stadium was constructed by SUMMA as part of Uganda’s preparations to host the continental tournament. The 20,000-seater multi-purpose stadium is located on 34 acres of land in Kyarwiru Cell, Hoima East Division, and is among the venues selected to host matches during AFCON 2027.
Construction of the stadium reportedly cost 129 million US dollars and was fully financed through Uganda’s Petroleum Fund, supported by revenues from the country’s oil and gas resources.
Designed to meet international football standards set by FIFA and CAF, the facility is equipped to host major sporting and continental events, potentially bringing players, officials, media and thousands of fans to the Bunyoro region.
The stadium features VVIP sections, an indoor arena, a swimming pool, modern changing rooms with gyms, volleyball and basketball courts, media conference halls, a hybrid football pitch, a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, FIFA and CAF offices, referee rooms, training grounds, a media gallery and parking space for nearly 1,000 vehicles, among other facilities.
The Uganda-Libya encounter therefore offers an early test of the facility’s ability to host international football while giving football fans in Bunyoro a chance to experience the national team on their doorstep.
Security increased
By 8 a.m. Tuesday, anti-riot police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces personnel had secured the stadium and main access routes, while additional security teams patrolled Hoima City’s central business district.
Albertine Region Police spokesperson Julius Hakiza said the deployment has been sanctioned to protect both teams, fans, and members of the public.
According to Hakiza, in such a big gathering, security must be at the forefront to detect and prevent any suspect wrong element.
Hakiza has appealed to the public to strictly adhere to the security guidelines being issued to them to ensure the success of the football match. He has further warned members of the public against participating in unauthorized movements in and around the stadium, saying security forces would take necessary action to maintain order.
