Kitara FC Blocked From Using Hoima City Stadium Ahead of AFCON 2027

Kitara FC has faced a major setback in its quest for a permanent home ground after the government barred the club from regularly using the Hoima City Stadium for domestic league matches. The decision was announced by the Minister of State for Education and Sports (Sports), Peter Ogwang, during a parliamentary session.

The matter was brought to the floor of Parliament by Hoima West MP Ismail Kasule during Prime Minister’s Time. Kasule appealed for temporary access to the stadium, arguing that the club’s current playing facility is unsuitable for competitive matches and does not meet sustainable standards for the team’s ongoing fixtures.

To support his plea, Kasule tabled receipts showing that Kitara FC had previously made payments totaling Shs90 million to the National Council of Sports (NCS). The documents included two Shs30 million payments made in September 2026, alongside another general receipt.

In his response, Minister Ogwang acknowledged Kitara FC’s role in representing Uganda in continental football, but firmly rejected regular access. According to Ogwang, professional advice dictates that the stadium’s hybrid pitch is meant to host matches only once a week and cannot withstand frequent use of up to three times a week.

Ogwang stressed that the facility is being strictly preserved for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda is co-hosting alongside Kenya and Tanzania. While he did not completely shut the door on occasional use, stating that requests would be handled on a strict case-by-case basis, he ruled out regular league fixtures at the venue.

Furthermore, the minister raised concerns regarding the Shs90 million payment presented by Kasule. Ogwang questioned whether the transaction had been properly authorized by the NCS board and whether the funds had been officially remitted to the government, pledging to launch a full investigation into the matter.

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