Kampala, Uganda: Government has reassured the public that Uganda remains on course to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), despite a recent inspection report highlighting gaps in preparedness across host nations.
State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang said Uganda had itself invited CAF to assess the progress of key facilities as part of quality control measures ahead of the continental tournament.
While he admitted that CAF flagged several issues, particularly at Hoima Stadium, Ogwang said steps were already being taken to address them.
“It is true that CAF cited a few gaps, specifically on Hoima Stadium. These have been brought to the attention of the contractor SUMMA, which has since held several meetings with us and has hands on deck to ensure the issues are resolved before the next inspection in August,” he said.
Uganda is expected to demonstrate significant progress before CAF’s next assessment, with benchmarks including at least 80 per cent completion of stadium works and installation of critical infrastructure such as floodlights, security, and communication systems.
Ogwang noted that some of the issues raised, such as roads, hotels, and airport readiness, fall outside the sports ministry’s direct mandate, but revealed that the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, had already tabled a Cabinet paper that secured government funding to address these cross-sector challenges.
“I want to reassure the public that the Government of Uganda, together with Kenya and Tanzania under the ‘East Africa Pamoja’ bid, is fully committed to ensuring that the AFCON 2027 campaign is a success,” he added.
CAF report highlights regional gaps
The CAF inspection team, led by Christian Emeruwa and Stephanie Totokra, conducted a tour of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania in February to assess stadiums, training facilities, safety, and supporting infrastructure.
Their findings indicated that none of the proposed competition stadiums across the three host nations is fully ready, with most venues still under construction, undergoing upgrades, or requiring major corrections.
In Uganda, Hoima remains a key concern due to limited standard training facilities, as well as gaps in hotel capacity, road connectivity, and readiness of Hoima International Airport.
Kenya is also facing delays, with major projects such as Kasarani Stadium and the Talanta Sports Complex still under construction. CAF warned that some facilities may end up being used only as training venues if timelines are not met.
Tanzania appears relatively ahead, with the Samia Suluhu Stadium among the most advanced projects. However, several upgrades are still required across venues in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, and Arusha.
CAF has identified the period between March and August 2026 as decisive for all host nations.
By the next inspection, countries are expected to show clear progress, backed by confirmed government funding and visible construction milestones.
With less than two years to the tournament, Uganda’s readiness will depend on accelerated works at Hoima and Namboole, as well as coordinated improvements in transport, accommodation, and security infrastructure.
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