Uganda’s National Sports Academy project moves to UPDF engineers

Uganda’s first National Sports Academy has moved into its development phase after the National Council of Sports handed the Sir Tito Winy site in Hoima to the UPDF Engineering Brigade on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. The site was received from the Church of Uganda and will be developed for immediate use as a sports training facility.

The first phase is valued at Shs 17.081 billion and forms part of the facilities being prepared around Hoima City Stadium for AFCON 2027. The longer-term plan is for the academy to develop athletes in football, rugby, track and field, as well as indoor and outdoor sports.

NCS has secured 100 acres from the Sir Tito Winy land. The council has also indicated that it could seek additional ground from the church if more space becomes available. The proposed complex will include three floodlit grass pitches, an artificial turf field and a running track.

A multi-purpose hall with changing rooms, a power house, ICT facilities, parking and access roads are also planned. The centre is expected to support coach education and the training of other technical personnel, rather than serve only as a venue for teams and athletes.

NCS board chairman Ambrose Tashobya said an education centre is also envisaged. Sir Tito Winy Secondary School has been encouraged to develop its own sports excellence programme so that young athletes from Hoima, Bunyoro and elsewhere in Uganda can progress into the academy.

The UPDF Engineering Brigade has committed to completing the immediate training-ground work within six months under the supervision of the Ministry of Works and Transport. The brigade has also taken on work at Kadiba Stadium, Kyambogo University, Makerere University, Boma Grounds, Masindi, Lira University, Gulu University and Pece.

The project comes as the UPDF football team sits 14th in the 2025 Uganda Premier League with 22 points from 30 matches. Its record is five wins, seven draws and 18 defeats, with 24 goals scored and 41 conceded, while five recent fixtures have produced four losses and one draw.