As Hoima transitions from a Town Council to a fully-fledged city, discussions surrounding the redevelopment of the 6.7-acre Hoima Boma Grounds have intensified, drawing sharp focus on issues of environmental stewardship, urban planning, and sustainable development.
For years, the Boma Grounds have been the subject of competing redevelopment proposals.
Among the options presented are the establishment of a high-level health facility or a modern multi-sports training complex ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The most recent proposal by the National Council of Sports (NCS) calls for the transfer of land ownership from Hoima City to facilitate construction of a multi-sport facility.
Despite these promises of progress, concerns have emerged regarding the lack of a comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).
Neither the District Council nor the public has been presented with a formal ESIA, contrary to the requirements of the Albertine Graben Environmental Management Plan (AGEMP) and the Environment and Social Safeguards (ESS), which mandate rigorous environmental checks for major infrastructural projects. The absence of such scrutiny is particularly striking given that Hoima City hosts the regional offices of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Stakeholders argue that overlooking environmental due diligence undermines Uganda’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
Hoima Boma Grounds currently serve as the city’s only formal emergency assembly point—an essential feature in a rapidly growing urban centre experiencing unplanned expansion.
The city already struggles with congestion during matches hosted by Kitara FC and Buhimba Saints, with crowds and traffic spilling into the central business district.
Critics warn that positioning another major sports facility within five kilometres of the existing Hoima City Stadium in Kyarwiru could further strain mobility, disrupt local commerce, and affect operations tied to the emerging oil and gas sector.
Uganda’s Vision 2040 emphasizes orderly, resilient urban growth, a priority that community leaders say would be undermined by reducing emergency open spaces and intensifying congestion in the heart of the city.
Instead, experts are calling for a more distributed approach to infrastructure development across Hoima’s divisions.
They propose prioritizing the modern sports training facility for Hoima West Division to ease pressure on the central business district while promoting balanced urban growth—one of Vision 2040’s core goals.
Schools such as Parajwoki, Karongo, and Bulemwa already possess playgrounds that could be upgraded for co-use, supporting both community recreation and school co-curricular programs in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Planners also argue that investing across Hoima East and Hoima West Divisions would complement ongoing road network improvements and help address long-standing infrastructural challenges across the city’s 400 kilometres of poor-quality roads.
They point to established planning models—such as the Garden City concept and incremental planning—as key frameworks capable of guiding Hoima’s growth while protecting green spaces, reducing pollution, and integrating recreational areas into neighbourhoods.