The Ugandan government has pledged to address critical infrastructure gaps after the Confederation of African Football indicated that none of the country’s proposed stadiums currently meet the standards required to host matches for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027.
According to a recent CAF inspection report, Uganda’s AFCON 2027 preparations remain at varying stages, including construction, renovation, and operational redesign. As of February 2026, none of the four proposed venues had met the required standards.
Mandela National Stadium is still undergoing renovation, while Hoima City Stadium was declared structurally complete but with several outstanding issues.
CAF cited concerns at Hoima, including poor segregation between spectator categories, cross-circulation of media, VIPs, teams and fans, as well as non-compliant dressing rooms for players and referees. The report also highlighted substandard media facilities, misplaced mixed zones, obstructed views, and insufficient operational buffer space.
In addition, CAF called for confirmation of readiness at Kabalega International Airport, validated hotel accommodation, and measurable progress—at least 40 percent—on the Kampala–Hoima road corridor. The availability of medical and emergency response infrastructure was also flagged as a key requirement.
CAF warned that the forthcoming August 2026 inspection will be decisive, focusing on stadium compliance, operational redesign, and supporting infrastructure.
Responding to the report, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang confirmed that government had received the findings, noting that the inspection was conducted at its request as part of quality control measures.
“It is true that CAF, in their report, cited a few gaps, specifically on Hoima Stadium and such gaps have been brought to the attention of the contractor-SUMMA. Indeed, the contractor has since held several meetings with us and has hands on deck to ensure that the issues raised are addressed in due course to the satisfaction of the CAF requirements and standards before the next inspection in August this year,” Ogwang said.
He added that broader infrastructural challenges—including the airport, roads, and hotels—fall outside the direct mandate of the sports sector, but are being addressed at Cabinet level.
“I want to reassure the public that 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 said.
