Rt. Hon. Anitah Among, the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, has sounded the alarm, cautioning that Uganda faces the imminent risk of losing its rights to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to delays in the commencement of construction works for the Hoima Stadium.
Speaking during plenary in Parliament, Speaker Anitah Among emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting that while Uganda secured the prestigious honor of hosting AFCON through the collaborative Pamoja bid with Kenya and Tanzania, it is lagging behind in preparations. She stressed that if Uganda fails to expedite the construction process, the hosting bid could be withdrawn.
“We won the PAMOJA bid with Kenya and Tanzania, all the other countries are constructing, the only country that is still behind is Uganda. And it is likely that if we don’t move faster, like we moved faster on Namboole, that bid will be taken away from Uganda,” Speaker Among remarked during the session.
The Pamoja bid, a joint effort between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, emerged victorious, securing the rights to host the prestigious 2027 AFCON tournament. Kenya presented an impressive array of facilities in its bid, including the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Nyayo National Stadium, Kipchoge Keino Stadium, and Atlanta Sports City.
Uganda, in its bid, proposed the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, as a venue, pledging to construct two additional stadiums – the Akii Bua Stadium in Lira and the Buhinga Stadium in Hoima. However, delays in the commencement of construction works for both stadiums have raised concerns.
The proposed Hoima Stadium is crucial to Uganda’s AFCON preparations, and Speaker Among emphasized the need for immediate action, citing the importance of securing funds outlined in the Supplementary Budget, specifically allocated for AFCON-related projects.
Tanzania, another partner in the Pamoja bid, showcased the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, along with plans to upgrade various venues across the country to meet AFCON standards.
According to CAF, match venues of a hosting country or joint hosts should be near an airport, level five hospital and a five-star hotel. The hosts should also have six stadiums to cater to the 24 teams that take part in the tournament.
It should be noted that Kenya won the bids to host the 1996 AFCON edition as well as the 2018 Africa Nations Championship finals, but on both occasions was stripped of the rights because several venues were not ready.
