Minister Ogwang Blocks Kitara FC From Hoima City Stadium Ahead of AFCON 2027

The Minister of State for Education and Sports (Sports), Peter Ogwang, has firmly rejected requests to allow Kitara FC to use Hoima City Stadium for regular domestic league matches. The decision comes as the government prioritizes the preservation of the facility ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Hoima West MP Ismail Kasule had raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Time in Parliament, appealing for temporary access because the club’s current ground is unsuitable for competitive games. Kasule also tabled receipts showing that Kitara FC had allegedly paid Shs90 million to the National Council of Sports (NCS) for previous use of the stadium.

Responding to the appeal, Minister Ogwang acknowledged Kitara FC’s role in continental football but stressed that the stadium’s hybrid pitch requires strict maintenance and cannot handle frequent fixtures.

According to professional advice, the pitch is designed to host games only once a week rather than multiple times. Ogwang noted that the facility is already experiencing overuse as preparations for the co-hosted tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania intensify.

While ruling out regular weekly matches, the sports minister indicated that exceptional requests would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. He also mentioned that the government intends to hire an international management firm to oversee operations and generate revenue after the continental tournament concludes.

Meanwhile, Ogwang pledged to investigate the Shs90 million receipts presented by Kasule. He questioned who authorized the club’s use of the facility and whether the funds were properly remitted to the government, noting that the NCS board had not cleared the transactions.

Read more details on the Parliament of Uganda.