KAMPALA — Uganda has committed more than Shs 2.25 trillion towards preparations for the co-hosting of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027, with government unveiling detailed sectoral allocations aimed at delivering infrastructure, logistics, and tournament readiness.
According to a press briefing by the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC), Cabinet initially approved Shs 1.35 trillion in 2024 to cater for both CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027 preparations. This figure included mandatory hosting fees of USD 13 million (about Shs 49 billion) for CHAN and USD 30 million (about Shs 113 billion) for AFCON.
An additional Shs 905 billion has since been approved to address critical inter-sectoral needs, bringing the total investment to over Shs 2.25 trillion.
Key Allocations
A breakdown of the newly approved Shs 905 billion shows heavy investment in infrastructure, health, tourism, and tournament operations:
- Shs 213.76 billion earmarked for upgrading 47.53 kilometres of roads, including 29.5 km in Hoima, 14.83 km around Namboole, and 3.2 km of Kinawataka Road, alongside 8.8 km of pedestrian walkways and street lighting.
- Shs 184.9 billion allocated for construction of a passenger terminal at Kabalega Airport to elevate it to international status.
- Shs 101.1 billion set aside for hotel upgrades in Hoima and Masindi and construction of a new facility near Kabalega Airport, financed through a Uganda Development Bank credit facility.
- Shs 109.9 billion allocated to the LOC to coordinate tournament operations across 13 sub-committees, covering security, hospitality, marketing, media, and ceremonies.
- Shs 56.2 billion allocated for further upgrades to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, bringing its total redevelopment cost to Shs 248.6 billion.
- Shs 91.05 billion committed to upgrading Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Masindi General Hospital, and Buseruka Health Centre III to meet CAF medical standards, including ICU and emergency services.
- Shs 37.85 billion allocated for international marketing and promotion of Destination Uganda.
- Shs 23.33 billion earmarked for railway upgrades, including the Kampala–Mukono line and Namboole Halt.
- Shs 17.7 billion allocated to upgrade FUFA Kadiba Stadium, with an additional Shs 12.55 billion set aside to prepare the Uganda Cranes team.
- Shs 13.75 billion committed to sanitation improvements in Hoima, Masindi, and Kira municipalities.
- Smaller allocations include Shs 6.44 billion for ICT infrastructure, Shs 6.25 billion for water supply in Hoima, Shs 4.69 billion for dedicated electricity lines, and Shs 3.39 billion for meteorological services.
Economic Projections
The LOC projects that Uganda could receive between 500,000 and 650,000 visitors during the one-month tournament scheduled for June 19 to July 18, 2027.
If each visitor spends at least USD 1,000, the country stands to generate a minimum of USD 500 million (about Shs 1.9 trillion) in direct tourism revenue.
Additional Measures
To boost tourism and ease movement, government has committed to:
- Waiving visa fees for all visitors for at least three months around the tournament period.
- Pursuing a joint “PAMOJA visa” with Kenya and Tanzania.
Timeline Pressure
Uganda is racing against time to complete two competition stadia — Namboole and Hoima City Stadium — and eight training facilities by January 2027, just months before kickoff.
Outlook
Officials say the scale of investment reflects a “whole-of-country approach” required to host Africa’s biggest football tournament, with government betting on infrastructure upgrades and tourism inflows to deliver long-term economic returns.
