Ugandan Government to Invest Shs1.34 Trillion in Sports Infrastructure for AFCON 2027

The government of Uganda has announced that it will allocate Shs1.34 trillion towards building and upgrading sports stadia in preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania. This announcement was made during the presentation of the 2025/26 national budget at the Ugandan Parliament.

The funds will help facilitate the construction of major stadiums such Hoima and Akii-Bua and at the same time improve regional facilities in Mbale, Mbarara, Masaka, Jinja, and Lira.

Hoima’s 20,000-seater stadium is expected to be completed by 2025 while Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium, being constructed by SAMCO, will be fully ready in less than two years.

Mandela National Stadium's facilities have already been improved and approved by CAF.

Despite the grand plans by the government, several Ugandans have raised serious concerns about fund mismanagement and delays, referencing to past unfinished projects such as Lubowa international Hospital which is still on its foundation yet it's construction was lauched a couple of years ago. Government has however, confirmed that all key facilities will be ready for inspection by mid-2026.

In 2023, Uganda submitted a joint bid to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside its East African neighbors, Kenya and Tanzania which was warnml welcomed by CAF. The tournament is slated to take place in June and July 2027.