Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have received a fresh vote of confidence from State Minister for Sports, Peter Ogwang, who has assured the nation that all issues raised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are being urgently handled.
His remarks follow the release of a CAF inspection report that pointed out several shortcomings in Uganda’s readiness, particularly concerning key infrastructure tied to the tournament.
Speaking to NBS Sport after the findings were made public, Ogwang revealed that Uganda had proactively engaged CAF to carry out a detailed evaluation of both Mandela National Stadium and the under-construction Hoima City Stadium as part of a broader quality assurance effort.
“It is true that CAF, in their report, cited a few gaps, specifically on Hoima Stadium and such gaps have been brought to the attention of the contractor, SUMMA,” he said.
The minister noted that SUMMA, the firm overseeing the Hoima project, has already intensified engagements with government stakeholders. According to Ogwang, the contractor is working round the clock to rectify the highlighted deficiencies before CAF conducts its next inspection scheduled for August.
CAF raises red flag over Namboole upgrade timeline ahead of AFCON 2027
He stressed that Uganda remains firmly on track and committed to aligning with all CAF standards and expectations, despite the concerns raised.
Beyond stadium infrastructure, CAF’s report also flagged broader logistical challenges, including gaps in transport networks, accommodation capacity, and airport readiness. Ogwang clarified that such matters fall under different government ministries and are being addressed at a higher coordination level.
He referenced a cabinet submission by Janet Museveni, who leads the inter-ministerial committee overseeing AFCON preparations, confirming that additional funding has been approved to fast-track critical interventions.
“I want to reassure the public that government of Uganda, together with Kenya and Tanzania under the East Africa ‘Pamoja’ bid, is fully committed to ensuring that the AFCON 2027 campaign is a success,” Ogwang said.
CAF’s inspection had pointed to operational inefficiencies at Hoima, compliance issues at Namboole, and deficiencies in supporting infrastructure such as hotel availability and road connectivity,areas Uganda must address swiftly to stay on course for co-hosting the continental showpiece.
