By George Bukenya
As Uganda continue to prepare for the hosting of Pamoja Africa Cup of Nations ( AFCON) 2027, government has earmarked over UGX 900 billion to be used in the completion of the required infrastructures and strategic planning.
This was announced by the chief spokesperson of the Ministry of Education and Sports who also doubles as the chairperson of the AFCON local organising committee Dr. Denis Mugimba while addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, 7, April.
Mugimba revealed that of the UGX 900 billion, 183.9 billion is allocated to upgrade Kabalega International Airport in Hoima District which was initially planned to handle only cargo planes but after its upgrade, it will be able to handle even passenger planes and participating nations in groups that are supported to use Hoima Stadium will be able to fly directly from their respective countries to Hoima City.
“ Government is going to help hotel owners to upgrade their facilities to the five star grade because CAF rules requires each hosting city to have 5 hotels of such calibre although a four star hotel is acceptable as per the continental football governing body standards,’’ Dr. Mugimba stated.
He further said , ‘’this amount of money is worth spending because the returns are tangible in the sense that each visitor spends at least US Dollars 1,000, Uganda will be able to earn UGX 1.8 Trillion because the expected number of visitor range between 500,000 to 650,000.’’
Dr Denis Mugimba addressing reporter at Uganda Media Centre
While 113.6bn are allocated to the construction and refurbishment of roads linking to the main AFCON playing Stadium of Mandela National and Hoima to ease access as well as installing street lights and walkways. FUFA will receive UGX 17.7 billion for the preparation of Uganda Cranes team and refurbishments of Kadiba play ground one of the grounds which will be used for training.
Upgrade of Mandela National Stadium will consume 56.2billion which bring the total of the whole refurbishment to UGX 246.6billion, while 109.9 is allocated to the planning committee, 6.44 billion is for internet and 111.1 billion is for the development of other training facilities, and upgrading of health facilities in the hosting cities.
Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) is currently refurbishing Mandela National Stadium and is also constructing Makerere University play ground one of the identified training grounds for the 2027 AFCON visiting teams.
Initially government had planned to spend UGX 1.3 trillion in preparation for hosting the most prestigious continental tournament but after the visiting of CAF officials who inspected the facilities recommendations for improvements where done forcing government to adjust the budget thus adding an extra over 900 billion.
Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, has assured Parliament that the stadiums designated for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be ready by the start of June 2027.
The primary venues for the tournament are, Mandela National Stadium (Nambole) in Kampala Metropolitan and the Hoima City Stadium which is still under construction. The later has a seating capacity of 20,000 while the former initially had a capacity of slightly more than 40,000 but after the upgrade before the hosting of CHAN last year’s this was reduced to only 38,000 with modern seats