Government Earmarks Shs42b For Private Hotels In Acholi And Lango

 October 6, 2026   |    44 views

By Charles Achoda

As preparations for AFCON 2027 continue, government has earmarked Shs.42B towards supporting the private sector hotels in Lango and Acholi sub regions – Sports Minister Peter Ogwang has said.

“Government has agreed to put up 42 Billion to support the private sector of Acholi and Lango hotels. These money will enable owners of hotels to reconstruct their facilities to meet international standards”, Minister Ogwang said.

Speaking to the Acholi leaders today on the upadte of AFCON 2027, Ogwang clarified that the money earmarked is not a direct grant but a low-interest loan facility through Uganda Development Bank (UDB).

“We are sending a consultant from CAF to come and assess these hotels in terms of their standards. It is not me, Ogwang or Federation,” the Minister clarified.

“I will only write a letter inviting the hotel owners in these areas to come and agree with us. Once assessment is done, ours is to recommend to Uganda Development Bank the names of the hotels the CAF consultant approved”, he said.

According to the Minister, he explained that the loan terms as highly subsidized for the AFCON project.

“It is then you the hotel owner who will sign a loan between you and the bank on terms and conditions which government has agreed with the bank: *5% interest rate, three years grace period, payable in ten years.* The lending rate of the bank as of today is 12%, but for purposes of this AFCON project, the lending rate is 5%”, Ogwang said.

The same facility is also being extended to the Bunyoro sub-region.

He challenged the private sector to be proactive and tap into such opportunities, citing Gulu City Lawyer Counsel Kimara who has been pushing for the Gulu Marathon. 

“Why would you wait for government? Friends, this support I am talking about can make all these facilities extremely usable during times when these activities come and I want to ask the leadership of the city authorities to use this opportunity,” he said.

*On Roads and Gulu Airport*

On infrastructure, Hon. Ogwang confirmed that the contractor for Akii-Bua Stadium was initially tasked to work on the Kobi – Ichome – Konya – Palaro road and the Gulu Airport road.  

“It is true, when we were given a contract of Akii-Bua, there was a provision that the same contractor helps us work on Kobi – Ichome – Konya road. Fortunately, I am the same person the President asked to move with the same team and I moved with them up to Kobi. The same contractor was given to work on the airport of Gulu and also work on the road between Gulu City and the airport.” 

“I want to confirm because I attended all the discussions. But as the Minister of the sports sub-sector, I have been following up on this matter. This discussion now needs Ministry of Works, Ministry of Finance and H.E the President. And it is my humble appeal that as leaders we follow up on this for purposes of it benefiting our people.

 The President was very clear, he said the reason why Gulu airport was to be constructed is because of tourists,” Hon. Ogwang concluded.