Entebbe, Uganda: President Museveni has endorsed a proposal to introduce a single East African visa for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a move aimed at allowing football fans, tourists, teams and officials to travel seamlessly across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania during the tournament.
The proposal received the President’s backing during a high-level meeting with the AFCON Local Organising Committee at State House Entebbe on Wednesday, July 1, as Uganda intensified preparations to jointly host the continental football showpiece with its East African neighbours under the Pamoja initiative.
The proposed visa would permit visitors to enter the three host countries using a single travel document for up to four months, eliminating the need for separate visas during the tournament.
“This is common sense. I support it,” President Museveni said, directing that discussions be initiated with his counterparts in Kenya and Tanzania to operationalise the arrangement ahead of AFCON 2027.
The proposal was tabled by Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja while presenting a progress report on Uganda’s preparations for the tournament.
“Your Excellency, this issue of the entry visa is very important. If somebody is coming to Uganda, they should also be able to access Kenya and Tanzania using the same visa for four months,” Nabbanja said.
The Acting Commissioner for Citizenship and Immigration Control, Col. Geoffrey Brian Kambere, told the meeting that Uganda already operates a similar regional visa arrangement with Kenya and Rwanda under the Coalition of the Willing framework.
“That is the spirit of Africa, having one visa so that people can move freely within East Africa. Currently, the arrangement exists between Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. The objective now is to mobilize our neighbours under the Pamoja arrangement so that Tanzania also joins,” Kambere explained.
Beyond the visa proposal, President Museveni reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring Uganda successfully co-hosts the 2027 AFCON, pledging full financial and technical support to deliver the tournament.
The meeting also reviewed progress on infrastructure projects that must be completed before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts its next inspection on August 31, 2026.
Prime Minister Nabbanja said government is racing to complete key projects by December 31, 2026, including the expansion of Mandela National Stadium, construction of AFCON training facilities, completion of the passenger terminal at Kabalega International Airport, road infrastructure around host venues, and the Busunju–Kiboga–Hoima Road.
The Minister of State for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, said preparations are being implemented through a whole-of-government approach, with every ministry and agency assigned specific responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi assured the meeting that funding for approved AFCON projects has already been provided for in the current financial year and will be released in line with implementation schedules.
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania will make history in 2027 by becoming the first East African nations to jointly host the Africa Cup of Nations, with officials viewing the tournament as an opportunity to deepen regional integration while showcasing East Africa as a premier tourism and investment destination.
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