By URN
Uganda’s multi-billion shilling push to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is facing intensifying scrutiny after Parliament exposed critical infrastructure shortfalls.
This raises fresh fears that the country could fall short of continental standards barely fifteen months before kick-off.
At the centre of the storm is a February 2026 inspection by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which reportedly found that none of Uganda’s key match venues currently meet the stringent category 4 requirements, the benchmark for hosting major international tournaments.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has pressed the government to explain how facilities commissioned or under construction at enormous public cost still fall below required standards.
“These are not minor gaps,” Ssenyonyi told Parliament. “Hoima was commissioned last year, but falls short. Namboole still has major deficiencies. Akii Bua is only 30 percent complete. What standards were followed in the first place?”
Uganda is part of the historic “Pamoja” bid alongside Kenya and Tanzania, the first joint AFCON hosting arrangement in East Africa.
But while its partners are largely upgrading existing facilities, Uganda has taken a more capital-intensive route, investing heavily in new stadium construction.
Parliament heard that Uganda has committed more than 1.3 trillion Shillings (approximately $350 million), partly drawn from the Petroleum Fund, toward stadium construction and upgrades. Yet key facilities remain below CAF standards.
For instance, Hoima City Stadium, whose construction costs 500 billion Shillings, is structurally advanced but lacking proper spectator segregation, safe movement channels for players and officials, modern media infrastructure, and compliant viewing angles.
Despite over 346 billion Shillings spent on renovation, critical elements at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, such as hospitality suites, skyboxes, and crowd flow systems, remain incomplete, with an additional 225 billion Shillings approved for Phase II.
Also, only about 30 percent of the Akii Bua Olympic Stadium, Lira, being constructed at 470 billion Shillings, is complete and yet to undergo a full CAF technical assessment.
Training venues, including Makerere University grounds, Kyambogo University facilities, and Wankulukuku Stadium, were also flagged as substandard.
CAF Category 4 requirements demand strict compliance with safety, pitch quality, broadcast facilities, security zoning, and accessibility under its Stadium Infrastructure Regulations, standards Uganda must meet to host group-stage and knockout matches.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja maintained that the government remains on track. “We shall be ready for AFCON 2027,” Nabbanja told MPs during a heated sitting on April 1, 2026. “The gaps identified will be addressed within the timelines. Progress is steady.”
But Ssenyonyi dismissed the assurances as vague, demanding detailed timelines, cost implications, and clarity on whether additional public funds will be required.
Speaker Anita Among cautioned against speculation in the absence of a formally tabled CAF report but directed the government to present a comprehensive update to Parliament by 21 April.
The controversy has also triggered questions about compliance with Uganda’s legal and policy framework governing public expenditure.
Ssenyonyi cited the Public Finance Management Act, 2015, which requires prudent, transparent, and accountable use of public resources, warning that redesigning or demolishing recently completed works could amount to wasteful expenditure.
Oversight responsibilities further fall under the National Council of Sports and Uganda’s broader National Sports Policy, while the pending National Sports Bill seeks to tighten governance and infrastructure standards.
Beyond infrastructure compliance, safety concerns are mounting. Lira District Woman MP Joan Alobo raised alarm over a recent stadium incident during a FUFA Drum match, where a roof collapse injured several fans, including one who required brain surgery at Lacor Hospital.
Alobo urged immediate removal of hazardous materials such as asbestos in public sports facilities and called on the Ministry of Health to address gaps in emergency response systems, issues that directly intersect with CAF’s safety requirements for host nations.
Uganda is not alone in facing scrutiny. Reports indicate that both Kenya and Tanzania have also been flagged for gaps, though their reliance on upgrading existing infrastructure may give them a cost and timeline advantage.
With a crucial CAF follow-up inspection scheduled for August 2026, Uganda faces a narrow window to align its infrastructure with international standards.
