By Our Reporter,
NATIONAL
The government of Uganda has expressed an overwhelming commitment to the realization of a ready environment in Uganda for the successful co-hosting of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027.
This follows the allocation of a total of 1.35 Trillion for the infrastructural, logistical, and operational costs of preparations for the co-hosting of the AFCON PAMOJA-2027.
However, the biggest question is, how the private sector, the government, and the
ordinary citizen can position themselves to tap into this newfound AFCON-2027
economy from the tournament that shall run for one month from 19th June 2027 to 18th July, 2027.
Co-hosting of a continental sports event of the magnitude of the Confederation
of African Football’s (CAF) Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is a complex operation
that neither a single Sector nor entity (government or private) can execute and
implement alone or in isolation.
According to the local organising Committee, Uganda shall have two primary competition stadia: namely Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) and Hoima City Stadium. The two will serve as main competition infrastructure, however, their training facilities must be compete by January 2027.
Relatedly, with 500,000 to 650,000 visitors may potentially flock to Uganda alone to experience AFCON-2027, government has also committed to waive the requirement for visa fees for all and any visitors coming to Uganda for a period of at least three months starting with one month prior to kick-off of AFCON-2027 up to one month after the final.
In a bid to facilitate the ease of movement of fans and guests during the
tournament, the government also committed to pursuing the option of a special purpose joint PAMOJA visa with Kenya and Tanzania during the tournament.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Center on Tuesday, Dr Dennis K Mugimba, the Chairperson, Communications and Signage Sub-committee of LoC said additional investments will go into hotels, ICT infrastructure, water and electricity systems, railway upgrades and sanitation services in host cities. This comes after President Museveni championed the approval of an additional UShs 905 billion towards meeting critical Inter-Sectoral funding and administrative requirements for AFCON-2027 summarized as follows,
1. The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development shall allocate
and ring-fence funds to MDAs with qualified AFCON-2027 interventions, some of which require funds to commence implementation between March and June 2026; that is, before the new financial year starts in July 2026.
2. UShs101.1 billion is being set aside by the government for the upgrading of
select Hotels in Hoima and Masindi and construction of a hotel to serve
Kabalega international airport. This shall be accessed through a special credit
facility for the private sector under the Uganda Development Bank (UDB).
3. UShs213.76 billion shall be allocated for upgrading at least 47.53 kilometres of
select roads around Hoima City Stadium (29.5 km) and Namboole Stadium
(14.83 km), Kinawataka Road (3.2 km) as well as 8.8 km of pedestrian walkways
and street lighting in select roads for the sake of safety and security of fans.
4. UShs 184.9 billion is being set aside to establish a passenger terminal at Kabalega Airport and operationalize the facility as an international airport.
5. UShs17.7 billion shall be allocated to the Federation of Uganda Football
Associations (FUFA) for the upgrade of FUFA Kadiba Stadium as a Training
Facility for AFCON-2027 as well as UShs. 12.55 billion for implementation of
various interventions aimed at preparing the Uganda Cranes team for AFCON-
2027.
6. UShs.109.9 billion shall be allocated to the AFCON-2027 Local Organizing
Committee to implement various tournament specific preparations across its thirteen sub-committees responsible for tournament and guest safety and
security, host city/country branding, guest hospitality, football team services,
spectator services, medical and anti-doping readiness, workforce and
volunteers, communication and in-stadia media operations, marketing, plus
preparations for hosting either the opening or closing ceremony for the
TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027.
7. UShs 56.2 billion shall be allocated to Namboole Stadium in FY2026/2027
remodeling and upgrade – this brings the total allocation for Namboole Phase II development to UShs 248.6 billion. The rest of the funds are all available in
the current financial year.
8. UShs6.44 billion is to be allocated for the deployment and improvement of
ICT infrastructure to support AFCON-2027 facilities, namely airports, hotels,
stadia, training facilities, and hospitals.
9. UShs. 91.05 billion is being committed to the upgrade of Hoima Regional
Referral Hospital, Masindi General Hospital, and Buseruka Health Centre-III to a capacity where they can handle ICU, accident and emergency care among
others as per requirements of CAF.
10.UShs13.75 billion is being allocated to Hoima City (UShs6.55 billion), Masindi
Municipality (UShs5.1 billion), and Kira Municipality (UShs2.1 billion) towards
improvement of sanitation and environmental hygiene services during the tournament.
11.UShs3.39 billion is being set aside for the upgrade of aeronautic meteorological services support to Kabalega and Entebbe International Airports.
12.UShs6.25 billion shall be allocated for the upgrade of the water grid capacity
in Hoima City to serve the upcoming AFCON-2027 facilities.
13.UShs 23.33 billion is being allocated for the upgrade and maintenance of the
railway, central Terminal, Kampala-Mukono line, Namanve Station, and Namboole Halt.
14.UShs 4.69 billion will be allocated for the establishment of dedicated electricity
lines to facilities that support AFCON-2027; namely Kabalega international airport, Hoima City Stadium, Hoima Boma Training Facility, Masindi Municipal
Training Facility, and Sir Tito Winyi S. S. S. Training Facility.
15.UShs37.85 billion is being committed to market and promote Destination
Uganda as a leverage of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027
tournament brand.
Additionally, the government has also announced measures to boost fan experience and accessibility, including waiving visa fees for all visitors for at least three months around the tournament and exploring a joint regional visa with Kenya and Tanzania.
“This massive sports event requires a whole-of-country approach,” Dr Mugimba said, emphasizing the need for collaboration across sectors.
LoC said regular updates will be provided as Uganda intensifies preparations to deliver what Mugimba said could be one of the most impactful sporting events in the country’s history.
