Da Dona
Senior Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 138
- 139
Kampala, March 2026 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has flagged significant gaps in Uganda’s preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), according to its official assessment as of February 2026.
The report highlights challenges across stadiums, training facilities, and supporting infrastructure, with critical progress expected before the next inspection in August 2026.
Current Readiness & Key Challenges
CAF notes that none of Uganda’s proposed competition stadiums fully meet Category 4 requirements.
The country’s AFCON infrastructure programme is in a mixed phase of construction, upgrading, and operational redesign, with three main stadium projects forming the core of the delivery plan.
Hoima City Stadium (New Construction – Requires Operational Redesign)
Stadium structure is complete but several operational deficiencies persist.
Key issues:
Lack of clear segregation between spectators (VIP, media, teams, general public)
Cross-circulation problems
Non-compliant dressing rooms for referees and players
Media facilities below CAF standards
Mixed zone wrongly located inside the competition area
Limited operational buffer space due to location
Benches obstructing spectator views
CAF Conclusion: Significant operational reconfiguration is required despite completion of the building.
The report highlights challenges across stadiums, training facilities, and supporting infrastructure, with critical progress expected before the next inspection in August 2026.
Current Readiness & Key Challenges
CAF notes that none of Uganda’s proposed competition stadiums fully meet Category 4 requirements.
The country’s AFCON infrastructure programme is in a mixed phase of construction, upgrading, and operational redesign, with three main stadium projects forming the core of the delivery plan.
Hoima City Stadium (New Construction – Requires Operational Redesign)
Stadium structure is complete but several operational deficiencies persist.
Key issues:
Lack of clear segregation between spectators (VIP, media, teams, general public)
Cross-circulation problems
Non-compliant dressing rooms for referees and players
Media facilities below CAF standards
Mixed zone wrongly located inside the competition area
Limited operational buffer space due to location
Benches obstructing spectator views
CAF Conclusion: Significant operational reconfiguration is required despite completion of the building.
Mandela National Stadium – Kampala (Existing Stadium – Needs Major Upgrading)
Major compliance gaps with CAF Category 4 requirements.
Proposed upgrades: partial demolition of the West Stand, structural expansion, roof replacement.
Major Concern: The 15-month construction timeline is incompatible with AFCON 2027 deadlines; CAF recommends a revised, accelerated strategy.
Priority Actions Before August 2026 Inspection
CAF’s next inspection will check measurable progress in the following areas:
1. Hoima City Stadium (Target: 100% readiness)
-Implement redesigned spectator circulation and segregation
-Relocate mixed zone outside competition area
-Upgrade referee and player dressing rooms
-Construct dugouts to fix view obstruction
-Improve media infrastructure and press facilities
-Validate spectator capacity,
circulation safety, and buffer spaces
2. Mandela National Stadium (Target: >50% readiness)
-Adopt revised upgrade strategy aligned with AFCON deadlines
-Start structural upgrades
-Plan hospitality areas, skyboxes, and media facilities
Major compliance gaps with CAF Category 4 requirements.
Proposed upgrades: partial demolition of the West Stand, structural expansion, roof replacement.
Major Concern: The 15-month construction timeline is incompatible with AFCON 2027 deadlines; CAF recommends a revised, accelerated strategy.
Priority Actions Before August 2026 Inspection
CAF’s next inspection will check measurable progress in the following areas:
1. Hoima City Stadium (Target: 100% readiness)
-Implement redesigned spectator circulation and segregation
-Relocate mixed zone outside competition area
-Upgrade referee and player dressing rooms
-Construct dugouts to fix view obstruction
-Improve media infrastructure and press facilities
-Validate spectator capacity,
circulation safety, and buffer spaces
2. Mandela National Stadium (Target: >50% readiness)
-Adopt revised upgrade strategy aligned with AFCON deadlines
-Start structural upgrades
-Plan hospitality areas, skyboxes, and media facilities
3. Training Infrastructure (Target: >80% readiness)
-Finalize training sites across all clusters
-Rehabilitate priority training grounds
-Certify lighting (≥500 lux)
-Ensure operational dressing rooms and pitch maintenance equipment
4. Supporting Infrastructure
CAF demands the following before another inspection in August;
-Hoima Airport operational readiness for international arrivals
-Minimum of five 5-star hotels with 50+ rooms each
-Road corridor improvements between Kampala and Hoima (≥40% progress)
Medical and emergency response services ready for tournament needs
CAF Assessment Summary
Positives: Hoima City Stadium structure is already built.
Concerns: Mandela National Stadium upgrades are behind schedule;
operational issues persist at Hoima; supporting infrastructure must progress rapidly.
Bottom Line: Uganda is not yet ready. The next five months, leading up to the August 2026 inspection, are critical to demonstrate operational fixes, accelerated stadium upgrades, and improved support services.
-Finalize training sites across all clusters
-Rehabilitate priority training grounds
-Certify lighting (≥500 lux)
-Ensure operational dressing rooms and pitch maintenance equipment
4. Supporting Infrastructure
CAF demands the following before another inspection in August;
-Hoima Airport operational readiness for international arrivals
-Minimum of five 5-star hotels with 50+ rooms each
-Road corridor improvements between Kampala and Hoima (≥40% progress)
Medical and emergency response services ready for tournament needs
CAF Assessment Summary
Positives: Hoima City Stadium structure is already built.
Concerns: Mandela National Stadium upgrades are behind schedule;
operational issues persist at Hoima; supporting infrastructure must progress rapidly.
Bottom Line: Uganda is not yet ready. The next five months, leading up to the August 2026 inspection, are critical to demonstrate operational fixes, accelerated stadium upgrades, and improved support services.
