AFCON 2027: CAF Inspects Uganda Facilities as Pressure Mounts Ahead of Tournament

Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have entered another crucial phase after CAF officials arrived in the country to assess the facilities being lined up for the continental tournament.

The inspection team began its Uganda leg in Kampala on Saturday after travelling from Kenya, visiting Mandela National Stadium in Namboole and several other facilities earmarked for the competition.

The delegation later moved to Hoima on Sunday, with the assessment forming part of a wider inspection exercise covering all three East African hosts.

After Uganda, the CAF officials are expected to head to Tanzania as they complete their tour under the Pamoja 2027 hosting arrangement.

Mandela National Stadium remains at the centre of Uganda’s hosting plans and is expected to serve as the country's principal match venue.

However, CAF’s assessment extends beyond the main stadium. Training facilities at Makerere University and Kyambogo University are also part of the Kampala host cluster, while work continues at FUFA Stadium in Kadiba as it is upgraded to meet continental requirements.

For CAF, the availability of quality training grounds will be just as important as the match venues. Inspectors are assessing whether participating teams will have access to suitable pitches, medical support, secure surroundings and dependable transport throughout the tournament.

The focus shifted to Hoima on Sunday, where the newly built Hoima City Stadium was among the major facilities under review.

The inspection also covers Hoima Boma Grounds and Masindi Municipal Grounds, while the Sir Tito Winyi site is being developed to provide additional training facilities.

Plans for Sir Tito Winyi include several training pitches, with the site eventually expected to become a national sports academy. Healthcare and transport infrastructure are also central to Uganda’s preparations in the region.

Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Masindi General Hospital and Buseruka Health Centre III have been incorporated into the tournament's infrastructure plans.

Buseruka is currently being upgraded to Health Centre IV level to strengthen emergency medical services along the corridor connecting Kabalega International Airport with Hoima.

Kabalega International Airport is another important component of the Hoima plan and is expected to be assessed because of its potential role in transporting teams, officials and tournament personnel.

The CAF delegation is also expected to travel to Lira to inspect the John Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium. Lira forms part of another broad host cluster that includes training facilities at Lira University, Gulu University and Pece Stadium.

The scale of the inspection underlines the amount of infrastructure Uganda must have ready before welcoming Africa for AFCON 2027.

While the latest CAF visit is an important milestone, there has been little public information about the inspectors’ preliminary findings.

The limited communication means it remains unclear which facilities have satisfied CAF’s requirements and where further improvements may still be needed ahead of the next inspection, expected in December.

Ugandan authorities have repeatedly maintained that all outstanding projects will be completed within CAF’s timelines, with substantial resources committed to stadium development, healthcare facilities and transport infrastructure.

The latest inspection allows CAF to measure Uganda’s progress on the ground and determine whether the country remains on course alongside Kenya and Tanzania for the 2027 tournament.

With another inspection looming later in the year, the pressure is now firmly on Uganda to turn its ambitious AFCON plans into fully operational facilities.