Hoima MPs blocked from AFCON stakeholders meeting at City Stadium
“If things need to be streamlined, then they have to include every stakeholder and take them seriously,” Kasule said.
Hoima: Members of Parliament representing Hoima City say they were blocked from accessing Hoima City Stadium, where an AFCON 2027 strategic stakeholders meeting was being held.
The MPs say the meeting had been convened by the Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, to discuss preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations and issues affecting local communities, including compensation.
Hoima City Woman MP Asinansi Nyakato said leaders received conflicting information about the meeting, with some being told it had been postponed while others were informed that it would start at 2 p.m.
“There are many issues affecting the local community, but they don’t give us the chance to sit with them and rectify them,” Nyakato said.
She said some people affected by projects had been compensated while others had not, arguing that such concerns require all stakeholders to work together.
Nyakato also raised concerns over government financing for hotel owners preparing for AFCON, saying Parliament approved funds for soft loans to support the upgrading of hotels, but Hoima hoteliers had not received the money.
Hoima West Division MP Ismail Kasule said they were informed at the stadium gate that they could not access the meeting.
Kasule said the strategic stakeholders meeting was important because he had previously raised related concerns on the floor of Parliament.
“If things need to be streamlined, then they have to include every stakeholder and take them seriously,” Kasule said.
Hoima East Division MP Patrick Isingoma Mwesigwa said there has been a disconnect between city MPs, local leaders, the Ministry of Sports and the National Council of Sports over AFCON preparations.
He said some land compensation matters are currently before court and that the stakeholders’ meeting could have provided an opportunity to discuss the broader concerns affecting the community.
The MPs’ concerns come as Hoima City continues preparations to host AFCON 2027. The Ministry of Education and Sports says Hoima City Stadium is among Uganda’s facilities being prepared for the tournament.
Meanwhile, the three Hoima City MPs have called on residents, business owners and other stakeholders to participate in the National Cleaning Day exercise scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The exercise is expected to take place in Hoima City as part of the government’s monthly National Cleaning Day programme. The Office of the Prime Minister has confirmed that Hoima was selected to host the September exercise as the city prepares for AFCON 2027.
Nyakato urged women, youth and other residents to participate, saying keeping the city clean is a collective responsibility.
Kasule called on local leaders, business owners and hotel operators to join the exercise, saying a clean city can support Hoima’s preparations to host visitors and investors.
Isingoma Mwesigwa urged residents to set aside at least two hours to participate in the exercise alongside national and local leaders.
The government’s National Cleaning Day programme generally runs from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the last Saturday of each month.
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