Uganda’s Stadium Saga: Extravagance, Delays, and the Question of AFCON Readiness

[Da Dona]

...as Uganda edges closer to co- hosting AFCON 2027, there's an- unanswered question: is the country really ready?

The main stadium- Mandela National Stadium, recently underwent renovations at a controversial UGX 94 billion (about $25.5 million) - according to The UG Nile post , interesting to note is that the money was spent on new grass, running track, and VAR rooms. Yet today, after all that investment, the stadium’s infrastructure remains largely unchanged which CAF advised officials to do a facelift prompting yet another round of renovations at a cost which is still undisclosed.

Another question come in: What exactly was the first renovation for?
Meanwhile, The government unveiled the 20,000 seater Hoima City Stadium, built by Summa at a humongous $129 million according to The UG Investment Authority, in northern Uganda, Akibua Stadium, projected to cost $129 million over 20 months, remains unfinished with no clear timeline for completion.

The pattern is glaring: extravagant spending, slow progress, and endless delays. Who approved such budgets? Is all this truly meant to ready Uganda for AFCON , are they a symptom of mismanagement and deeper inefficiencies in infrastructure planning?

Kenya and Tanzania, the other members of PAMOJA are a step ahead in regards to preparations,
With AFCON 2027 gearing up, the stakes could not be higher. Uganda’s stadium story is one of extravagance without results, delays without accountability, and doubts over readiness. the question remains: who is to blame, and what will it take to make Uganda truly ready?