The Chairperson of the Communications and Promotions Committee for the Afcon Pamoja Bid, Dennis Mugimba, says Uganda’s preparations currently stand at about four out of 10, with infrastructure works still lagging behind Confederation of African Football (Caf) expectations despite ongoing government interventions and technical engagements.
Mugimba says Caf believes most of the issues raised during inspections are manageable and should not cause panic ahead of the tournament. He adds that preparations go beyond stadium construction and include roads, security, accommodation, media operations and logistics, which together place Uganda’s overall readiness at approximately four out of 10.
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From February to-date, when that Caf inspection report was released, where do we stand?
In terms of infrastructure and responding to issues raised in Caf’s February 2026 inspection report, I would place us at about three out of 10. However, on the broader scale of preparations, I would rate us at around four out of 10.
Caf is not only looking at infrastructure. Last week, we hosted what Caf calls a kick off meeting in Kampala, where they gave us feedback on our performance during CHAN 2024 and highlighted areas we need to improve ahead of Afcon 2027.
Preparations go beyond stadiums. There are roads, security, ticketing, media operations, accommodation and other logistical areas. Given that we are about 12 months away from kick off in June 2027, I would place Uganda’s preparedness at around 3.5 to four out of 10.
Which specific structural deficiencies at Namboole and operational redesigns at Hoima City Stadium have been fixed since the inspection? Because from the outside, progress appears slow.
We have been engaging Caf’s technical team responsible for sports infrastructure. They have already visited the stadiums and guided us on what adjustments are needed. For example, Caf raised concerns about access routes, saying VIPs and media personnel should not use the same entry points. That adjustment is minor and can easily be handled.
They also raised concerns about the press conference room, saying it was too small. We had followed Caf’s 2022 sports infrastructure regulations, which require seating for 50 people. However, the room is built within concrete structures, so Caf is not asking us to demolish anything.
Instead, we plan to establish an outdoor executive media tent during the tournament that can accommodate between 150 and 200 journalists. We shall also have a media centre within the indoor arena, which hosts about 2,000 to 2,500 people. These interventions have already been budgeted for.
Caf also asked us to expand the media tribune. That only requires changing seat demarcations by reserving additional seating space for journalists.
But how does changing seat demarcations solve real structural issues?
The media tribune issue is not structural. It is within the stands. We had separated spaces using glass partitions. If Caf requires seating for up to 200 journalists, we simply extend the reserved area into adjacent spectator seating. No seats are being removed.
The only major concern is the press conference room, and Caf understands that we cannot alter concrete pillars. That is why the outdoor media facility was proposed.
One question many Ugandans are asking is this: how was the facility constructed without considering Caf standards?
That is a legitimate concern. We worked with a top-tier contractor who followed Caf’s 2022 infrastructure regulations.
However, during our engagements after the inspection, Caf informed us that they revised some of those regulations in either 2024 or 2025. Unfortunately, those updated regulations had not yet been officially published.
Even so, we remained in communication with Caf throughout construction. They visited facilities like Namboole, Kyambogo and Kadiba, although they did not conduct full inspections earlier because of scheduling constraints.
The good thing is that Caf says all the issues raised are manageable and should not cause panic.
Who is going to foot the bill for these adjustments? The contractor or government?
Ultimately, it is government money either way. The contractor still has liability obligations until December. Any changes falling within the contractor’s liability scope will be handled by them. Anything beyond that will be absorbed by government, but most of the adjustments are manageable and not very costly.
Caf officials were recently on the ground with the contractor and our technical team to assess practical solutions. One concern raised involved the visibility of the field from certain seating areas behind the team benches. Caf is advising us on workable alternatives, but they are not asking us to alter the stadium structure itself.
From the outside, government appears disorganised. Billions were spent renovating Namboole, yet 12 months before kick off, Caf says the stadiums still do not meet Afcon standards.
We must understand the context. As President Museveni has repeatedly said, Uganda entered the CHAN and Afcon hosting process midway when many projects were already ongoing. By the time Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania won the Pamoja Bid, renovation works at Namboole were already underway at an estimated cost of Shs97 billion.
We could not stop midway and redesign everything, including roofing and facades. We decided to complete Phase One first so that Uganda could host CHAN. Then we planned a second phase worth about Shs248 billion to upgrade the remaining facilities to full Afcon standards.We always knew that after CHAN, further remodelling would be needed at Namboole.
So why didn’t Uganda wait until it was fully ready before committing to Afcon?
Some well-meaning Ugandans committed the country before government institutions fully appreciated the scale of the project. By the time we realised the commitment had already been made, Uganda could not back out.
It was not Fufa alone. The agreements were signed by senior political leaders, and government chose to honour that commitment.
How will the Ministry of Finance ensure transparency and accountability in the use of the additional Shs905 billion approved for Afcon 2027 preparations?
Leadership matters. Problems arise when there is no oversight. The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, who chairs the Local Organising Committee and heads the inter-ministerial coordination for Afcon 2027, is very hands-on. She insists on accountability.
Each government agency has defined legal responsibilities. When the Ministry of Finance says funds are ring-fenced, that money cannot legally be diverted.
For example, the Shs109 billion allocated to the Local Organising Committee through the National Council of Sports cannot be used for anything else. Similarly, the Shs5.2 billion allocated for upgrading Fufa Kadiba Stadium cannot suddenly be redirected to buying vehicles for the national team.
In fact, a presidential directive states that all Afcon training facility upgrades will be handled by the UPDF Engineering Brigade. So, the money does not go directly to Fufa accounts.
What about the Shs12.5 billion allocated for the Uganda Cranes?
That money goes through Fufa, but Fufa has a detailed activity plan. Part of it will support player naturalisation and performance analysis equipment. They must account for every activity and expenditure. There is also money allocated to Uganda Premier League clubs, but those funds will be transferred directly to the clubs through the National Council of Sports. The First Lady has made it clear that accountability will be strict.
But if officials can steal iron sheets, what stops them from stealing billions?
This is a different level altogether. The President designated the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports as the accounting officer for Afcon resources. There will also be audits. Parliament already instituted a forensic audit into CHAN 2024 expenditures, and we are awaiting that report.
Shs213 billion has been earmarked for 47 kilometres of roads around Namboole and Hoima City Stadium. Yet major roads, especially towards Hoima, still appear incomplete.
The Kampala–Hoima highway is not part of the Afcon budget. That project predates Afcon. The Shs213 billion is specifically for access roads serving stadium facilities. Those roads will include paving, lighting and other safety infrastructure. The Ministry of Works is already finalising designs, and contractors are expected to be announced within weeks.
That works out to roughly Shs4.5 billion per kilometre for feeder roads. Isn’t that excessive?
The roads involve more than tarmac. They include street lighting and pedestrian safety measures.
We are also informed that Uganda’s road construction unit costs are generally high, and that was factored into the estimates.
The total Afcon spending is now projected to exceed Shs1.3 trillion. Are we biting off more than we can chew?
Much of that money had already been committed before. It includes Hoima City Stadium, Akii-Bua Stadium, training facilities, university grounds, Kadiba and other sports infrastructure.The additional Shs905 billion is above the earlier commitments.
The President believes the investment is worthwhile because the infrastructure will remain useful long after Afcon. These are national assets that will support sports development and tourism promotion for years to come.
We are talking about upgrading hospitals and hotels, and constructing the Kabalega Airport passenger terminal. What is the current status?
We are upgrading Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Masindi General Hospital and a Health Centre III located along the route from Kabalega International Airport to Hoima City.
Fortunately, the Ministry of Health already had plans and designs in place for upgrading Hoima Regional Referral Hospital and Masindi General Hospital. What was missing was funding. Afcon essentially accelerated those projects. Contractors for the two facilities are already identified, and work is expected to commence as soon as the remaining administrative processes are completed.
What exactly did Caf require from those facilities?
Caf requires that these hospitals have intensive care unit capabilities and accident and emergency services. So, this is not just about constructing inpatient wards or expanding outpatient departments. Caf introduced an additional layer of requirements, and that presents an opportunity for Uganda. For example, some facilities would probably never have received accident and emergency upgrades if Afcon had not come along. Kabalega International Airport will also have a health facility to support airport operations.
What about Kabalega International Airport itself?
That airport was originally designed mainly for cargo and oil-and-gas operations, not passenger services.
However, when Uganda submitted its Afcon bid, we committed that Hoima City Stadium would be served by Kabalega International Airport. Caf requires every major tournament stadium to be linked to an international airport.
That is why government committed Shs141 billion towards constructing a passenger terminal at Kabalega International Airport. Previously, the Ministry of Works and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority had already budgeted about Shs40 billion for operationalisation of the airport. Once the passenger terminal component was added, the total budget rose to approximately Shs181 billion.
Won’t that passenger terminal become redundant after Afcon?
No, it will not. The airport was initially planned as a cargo facility, but Afcon creates an opportunity to expand its role. Once people know that Kabalega International Airport can also handle passenger traffic, it opens up investment opportunities.
Hotels are being developed, oil-and-gas activities are expanding and tourism in the region will grow. The distance between Kabalega Airport and Hoima City is comparable to the distance between Kampala and Entebbe Airport via the expressway. So this investment goes far beyond Afcon.
But what about hotels? Once Afcon is over, won’t many of them remain underutilised, especially if they are upgraded to expensive Caf standards?
Let me give you an example.Last week, when Caf officials came to Kampala for the Afcon 2027 kick off meeting, we struggled to find hotels with conference facilities for just 150 delegates. Many hotels in Kampala were fully booked.
The facilities being developed are not only for accommodation. They will support meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions what we call the MICE industry.Hoima will also benefit from tourism and oil-and-gas business travel.
Caf is not asking Uganda to build Sheraton or Marriott-level hotels in Hoima. What Caf requires is service quality that meets international standards. This is about building long-term national capacity. For example, Uganda has already submitted a bid to host the All Africa Games in 2031. If successful, facilities like Hoima City Stadium and the surrounding hotel infrastructure will already be in place.
But realistically, no local football club can afford to maintain or regularly use Hoima City Stadium. Doesn’t that risk turning it into a white elephant?
The National Council of Sports is already developing a comprehensive management strategy for these facilities. For Hoima City Stadium specifically, management will be outsourced to a professional company responsible for marketing the venue and attracting sports and non-sporting events to generate revenue. The facility will not simply remain idle.
So, there was no management plan before construction began?
No, the planning has been happening concurrently. Development and operational strategy are moving together. Potential service providers have already been identified, and announcements should be made soon by the National Council of Sports.
Still, very few Ugandans will travel to Hoima for concerts or sports events.
Who says so? Just recently, Kitara hosted a sold-out match at Hoima City Stadium. There is clear public interest. The issue now is ensuring that revenue collection and facility management are properly structured between the National Council of Sports and football authorities.
As of April 2026, none of these projects had signed completion certificates. Yet kick off is only months away.
That is because some contracts are still being awarded and works are ongoing.The UPDF Engineering Brigade has been tasked with ensuring all eight Afcon training facilities for Hoima City Stadium and Mandela National Stadium are completed by December 2026.
As we speak, the Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, is in Hoima handing over facilities such as Hoima Boma Grounds and Masindi Municipal Grounds to the UPDF Engineering Brigade. Training facility upgrades can be completed within four to six months. So, if work begins in May, we expect significant progress by October.
What happens if key facilities like Fufa Kadiba are not ready in time?
Fufa requested until the end of June to complete its league schedule before handing over Kadiba. Works are expected to begin in July. Caf has made it clear that during the August inspection, they are not expecting 100 percent completion. What they want to see is substantial progress towards completion.
Even the later inspections are focused on progress, not perfection. The final handover is expected around January 2027.
You have repeatedly called for a “whole-of-country” approach, yet tensions between government and Fufa continue to emerge. Fufa still controls the national team and some training venues. If government and Fufa are not fully aligned now, what happens when the tournament begins?
What happens between government and Fufa is normal in any major partnership. I often compare it to planning a marriage. You may disagree on some issues, but the ultimate goal remains the same. Fufa comes from a private-sector background while government operates within public-sector systems, including stricter accountability requirements. But we continue working together. For example, my Vice Chairperson on the Communications and Promotions Subcommittee is a Fufa nominee. The Vice Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee is Fufa President Moses Magogo.We sit together and make joint decisions.
But who takes responsibility if deadlines are missed?
The Local Organising Committee takes responsibility collectively. It is not government alone or Fufa alone. In the case of Kadiba, Fufa explained that league matches were still ongoing, and we accommodated that request because the timelines still allow completion by December 2026. We are confident the UPDF Engineering Brigade has the capacity to finish the work in time.
At the beginning, Fufa pushed for the bid, but government now controls most of the funding and infrastructure. So who is really in charge?
There is a tripartite structure. First, Caf is the rights holder. Second, Fufa is the member association recognised by Caf. Third, there is the Local Organising Committee, which brings together both government and Fufa representatives.
Operationally, the Local Organising Committee oversees implementation, monitoring and coordination.
Caf provides technical football standards, Fufa provides football expertise, and government provides financing and public infrastructure.
Yet during CHAN 2024, visiting teams stayed in five-star hotels while Uganda Cranes players stayed in a facility many considered below standard. How did that happen?
That issue was raised directly with Caf. Caf clarified that host nations normally choose where their national teams stay. In Uganda’s case, that decision was not made by the Local Organising Committee.
The Local Organising Committee participated in selecting hotels for visiting teams, but not for the Uganda Cranes.
So, under your watch, Fufa still controlled those decisions.
Caf allowed the member association to retain that responsibility. However, lessons were learned from CHAN. One of the key recommendations from Caf last week was the need for more transparent and systematic procurement processes. Going forward, decisions on accommodation will involve closer coordination between Caf, the Local Organising Committee and Fufa.
There were also concerns about possible conflicts of interest regarding hotel selection.
Caf itself raised concerns about procurement transparency. As the Local Organising Committee, we also want clarity on how hotel decisions are made because government is contributing substantial funding to the tournament. Uganda alone committed $30 million as part of the Pamoja Bid package.
Afcon 2027 is projected to generate about Shs1.8 trillion in economic impact. Is this based on actual economic modelling or just assumptions?
The estimates are based on projected visitor numbers. Uganda alone expects at least 500,000 visitors during the tournament. Across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, we expect roughly 1.8 million visitors.
East Africa is already a strong tourism destination, so the numbers could even exceed those projections. If each visitor spends an average of about 1,000 US dollars, the economic impact becomes very significant.
Finally, Mandela National Stadium has undergone multiple expensive renovations over the years. With Phase Two expected to cost another Shs56.2 billion, what guarantees are there that this will not become another white elephant project?
The Phase Two remodelling will significantly improve Namboole’s facilities, including VIP areas, media facilities and conference spaces. The stadium will have a completely new look and improved functionality.
The responsibility now lies with the National Council of Sports to ensure these facilities are actively marketed and utilised for sports, entertainment and other revenue-generating events.
That is how the long-term value of the investment will be realised.