The Ugandan government has set aside Shs900 billion to prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), signaling tighter fiscal oversight as the East African nation gears up to co-host the continent’s premier football tournament.
Dr. Denis Mugimba, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education and Sports and chairperson for communications on the AFCON Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the government has put financial safeguards in place to ensure that funds are used strictly for their intended purpose.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, March 7th, 2026, Mugimba described the tournament as a “collective host” effort that requires participation from multiple stakeholders beyond government capacity.
“We cannot handle this alone as government. This is a shared responsibility,” Mugimba said.
The LOC, chaired by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni, is an independent body operating under guidelines from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Uganda’s public procurement laws.
Mugimba revealed that initial budget proposals submitted by various stakeholders totaled nearly one trillion shillings but were later rationalized to approximately Shs900 billion.
The 2027 tournament, scheduled for July, will be co-hosted with regional partners. Officials say lessons from Uganda’s 2024 CAF hosting experience will shape preparations for the larger upcoming event.
Infrastructure improvements are already underway. Plans include elevating hotel standards in Hoima and Masindi to five-star and six-star levels to accommodate teams and officials. Kabalega Airport in Hoima is also set for expansion from a cargo facility into a fully operational passenger airport with standard terminals.
All construction and upgrades are expected to be carried out primarily by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade, following a directive from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
In addition to sports infrastructure, the government intends to use the tournament as a strategic tourism campaign under the theme, “Destination Uganda.”
Officials are also considering waiving visa fees for visitors during the tournament period, in coordination with co-hosting countries.
