Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press – Uganda. The government of Uganda on 7th June 2024, signed a contract with M/S Summa, a Turkish Company, for the construction of a stadium in the mid-western region of Uganda. The 20,000-seater multi-purpose stadium will be constructed in preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The Hoima Stadium is among those that Uganda plans to host matches during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which it will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
Inside the signed contract
During the signing of the contract, the government of Uganda was represented by Dr.Bernard Patrick Ogwel of Uganda a National Council of Sports in his capacity as the Secretary General of NCS, whereas Selim Bora signed on behalf of M/S Summa Construction Company. The two parties agreed in the contract that the stadium will be constructed within 18 months and is required to be ready by December 2025. The contract signing ceremony was hosted by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, at the State House in Kampala. Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport, supported by the recently inaugurated Africa Cup of Nations Sub-Committee on Infrastructure, will supervise this project.
Why did Uganda choose M/S Summa
According to the Ugandan First Lady and the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, following the wise counsel of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, M/S Summa was secured to undertake construction works for the stadium in Hoima City within 18 months. Ms. Museveni also explained that M/S Summa was given this opportunity to construct the stadium in Uganda because the Turkish company is highly recommended as the contractor that has changed the face of sports infrastructure with neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Senegal, and other countries across the world. The government of Uganda is taking deliberate action to invest in sports infrastructure in order to develop and professionalize the abundant talent in different disciplines and to generate revenue. This is not the first Summa has cooperated with Uganda to build a stadium. In 2023, the Turkish company engaged in discussions with the authorities in Uganda regarding the construction of a cutting-edge multipurpose indoor sports complex boasting a seating capacity of 15,000 individuals. This state-of-the-art facility is intended to be built at the National Council of Sports (NCS) premises in Lugogo, Kampala.
About Summa
Summa was established in 1989 by the Honorary President Mete Bora, in Ankara, Turkey. This international contractor avails a number of diversified interests and operations. The previous 20 years in a row have witnessed Summa being named among the top 250 international construction companies by the United States (U.S) based Engineering News-Record (ENR). Some of the projects that they have undertaken include the Niger Ministry of Finance building, Kigali Arena, Senegal Airport, Senegal Stadium, Africa Leadership University (Uganda), Chisinau Arena (Moldova), Magas Airport (Republic of Ingushetia), Leogrand Hotel (Moldova), Venezuela Vargas Housing Estate (Venezuela), Bogatyr Hotel (Russia), Kintele Congress Centre and Hotel Brazzaville City Centre Complex (Republic of Congo), Gold exploration activities in Niger and others. Summa employs approximately 2,500 people around the world across four different continents including specialists from civil engineers to doctors.
Uganda and Turkey diplomatic relations
Uganda and Turkey’s diplomatic relations have greatly improved in recent years. The construction sector is the driving force. Türkiye’s presence in Uganda is growing with contractors carrying out major development initiatives in the public and private high-tech infrastructure. Turkey employs about 4,000 Ugandans in the ventures they are involved in and expressed interest in the Turkish construction firms being allocated more roads. The two nations have a strong commitment to development cooperation in the sectors of infrastructure, manufacturing, education, tourism, and health. The records from Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that Turkey’s bilateral trade volume with Uganda was USD 41 million in 2019, which increased to USD 63 million in 2020, and in 2021 the trade volume increased to USD 71 million. Turkish exports to Uganda increased by 26 percent, and Uganda’s exports to Turkey increased by 418 percent. Turkey had no significant relations with Uganda, although several Turkish firms conducted business in Uganda with Uganda, particularly during former President Idd Amin’s regime, The Turkish Embassy in Kampala, and the Ugandan Embassy in Ankara were inaugurated in 2010. The relations between the two countries are developing steadily as a result of high-level visits between the two nations and the willingness of both countries to work together. Uganda has signed agreements with many Turkish companies in recent years. In September 2021, a Turkish company Polat Yol Yapi won a mega deal from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to upgrade a 92-kilometer (57-mile) road that will link Uganda to Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. Polat Yol Yapi was advanced to Shs 71 billion to immediately kick off the construction considering the urgency of the project. Last year, Uganda decided to scrap off all construction work it signed with a Chinese company to build a billion-dollar railway from its border with Kenya to the capital city Kampala after the project failed to start for years. Uganda agreed to give a Turkish private company Yapi Merkezi a contract to build the Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) after years of inaction by China on the project. After signing the Hoima stadium construction, Uganda requested Summa not to abuse the trust that Uganda had placed in them as the constructors but to deliver an excellent job on the people’s project.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
