By Guest Writer
The National Council of Sports (NCS) has clarified that the 18.7 kilometers of access roads linking Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium to different parts of Lira City are not part of the current stadium construction contract.
NCS General Secretary Bernard Patrick Ogwel said the contract signed for the stadium provides for ring roads immediately around the facility but does not cover the wider network of roads connecting the stadium to the city.
Ogwel was responding to concerns raised by Lira City Mayor Sam Atul, who said the access roads should have been included in the stadium project because they are critical to the usability of the facility.
“By the time we signed the contract, which I signed on behalf of the National Council of Sports and the ministry, we talked about ring roads around the stadium, which is well within the contract terms.”
Ogwel said the roads identified by the city are different from the ring roads included in the stadium contract, adding that the city had earlier indicated that some of the roads could be incorporated into the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project. He said NCS has asked the city authorities to develop a plan for addressing the additional infrastructure needs.
Ogwel, however, acknowledged the importance of the roads to the stadium, particularly given the expected increase in traffic when the facility hosts major sporting events.
He said NCS is in discussions with Lira City authorities on how the additional roads can be addressed through a future budget framework, although funding has not been provided for them under the current stadium project.
The clarification follows remarks by Mayor Sam Atul that the main access road from Obote Avenue through Won-Nyaci, covering about 3.2 kilometers, should have been included in the stadium project.
Atul said the wider 18.7-kilometre road network was designed by the Ministry of Works following instructions from NCS and that the city participated in identifying the roads.
He argued that the roads are necessary to provide alternative routes to the stadium for visitors coming from different parts of Lango and beyond. According to Atul, travelers from Soroti, Dokolo and Amolatar could access the stadium through Boroboro. The mayor said the alternative routes would help ease congestion around the stadium during major events.
On the other hand, Ogwel also addressed concerns over land around the stadium, saying part of the project area is a wetland gazetted by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
He said NCS obtained clearance from NEMA after an assessment to allow construction works, including installation of culverts, in the affected area, dismissing claims by some community members that they own portions of the project land and are therefore entitled to compensation.
He said the land was transferred to government without encumbrances and that the Ministry of Finance had required NCS to ensure the land was free of claims before releasing funds and signing the construction contract.
The construction of Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium is part of government efforts to develop sports infrastructure in the region, with the facility expected to serve as a major sporting and events venue in Lira City. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
