Uganda’s government is taking decisive steps to address gaps in its sports infrastructure ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), State Minister for Sports Hon Peter Ogwang has said.
Speaking on the CAF inspection of Uganda’s stadiums last month, Ogwang confirmed that the assessment was part of quality control and assurance measures ahead of the tournament.
The inspections focused on Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) and Hoima City Stadium, both earmarked to host matches.
“CAF highlighted a few gaps, particularly at Hoima Stadium. These have been brought to the attention of the contractor, SUMMA, who has since engaged closely with us to address the issues and ensure compliance with CAF standards ahead of the next inspection in August,” Ogwang said.
The CAF report revealed that none of Uganda’s proposed competition stadiums currently meet the Category Four standards required to host AFCON.
The third stadium, Aki-bua Stadium, is still under construction and was not inspected. CAF noted: “The site was not visited during the inspection mission, and therefore its current technical status requires further verification.”
Ogwang highlighted that while Kampala benefits from relatively developed infrastructure, readiness across Hoima and other host locations remains a work in progress.
On training facilities, the CAF report pointed to uneven levels of preparedness, particularly in the Hoima and Kampala clusters. Key challenges include:
- Insufficient number of compliant training grounds in Hoima;
- Pitch rehabilitation requirements;
- Lighting installation and certification (≥500 lux);
- Completion of dressing rooms and technical facilities.
Kabalega International Airport in Hoima still under construction (Courtesy photo)
CAF also raised concerns over supporting infrastructure critical to tournament success, such as airports, hotels, and road connectivity.
In particular, the Hoima Airport’s operational readiness, limited high-category hotel capacity, road connections between Kampala and Hoima, and validation of medical and emergency services require attention.
Ogwang reassured the public that the government, together with Kenya and Tanzania under the “East Africa Pamoja” bid, is fully committed to ensuring a successful AFCON 2027 campaign.
He also noted that broader infrastructural challenges outside the Education and Sports sector are being addressed. “The Minister of Education and Sports, Hon Janet Museveni, submitted a cabinet paper securing additional government resources to fill these gaps,” he said.
The minister emphasized that SUMMA is already implementing corrective measures at Hoima Stadium and other areas to satisfy CAF requirements.
