UGANDA RACES AGAINST TIME TO MEET AFCON 2027 STANDARDS AS STADIUM WOES, SAFETY CONCERNS MOUNT
KAMPALA — With just over a year until Uganda co-hosts the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, the government has moved to reassure the public that critical infrastructure gaps at two major stadiums will be addressed, even as opposition lawmakers question the quality of work and a separate stadium accident raises fresh safety alarms.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja told Parliament that Uganda will use the remaining time to fix deficiencies cited by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, and the newly built Hoima Stadium. CAF inspections reportedly identified “glaring loopholes” in construction and rehabilitation works at both venues.
“Are we going to be ready? AFCON is just next year,” Ms Nabbanja said, acknowledging the tight deadline but insisting the government would bridge the gaps ahead of the tournament.
Her assurances, however, did little to calm a growing political storm led by the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi. Mr Ssenyonyi raised concerns that nearly UGX 500 billion has been spent on stadium preparations, yet Hoima Stadium—already commissioned—still fails to meet CAF standards. He further noted that Namboole has major compliance gaps, the Aki Bua Stadium in Namboole (Olympic-size) stands at only 30% construction, and several training facilities remain below international requirements.
“What standards template was used during the construction of Hoima Stadium?” Mr Ssenyonyi demanded, pointing to reports that CAF had recommended the demolition of some works deemed substandard. He called on the government to explain the benchmarks applied during construction.
LIRA ROOF COLLAPSE SPARKS CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE SAFETY AUDIT
The scrutiny over infrastructure quality intensified following an accident in Lira City, where three football fans were injured when the roof they were seated on collapsed during a match between Teso and Lira provinces. The incident occurred as spectators climbed onto a structure that gave way under their weight.
In the aftermath, the government issued a statement urging football fans to “exercise restraint and responsibility” while supporting their local teams. But Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo demanded more decisive action, calling for the removal of asbestos roofs from all public facilities.
“Following the tragic accident in Lira, where the roof of the building some fans were seated in fell, leaving three fans from Teso with injuries,” Ms Alobo said, the government must act swiftly to eliminate the risk posed by aging asbestos roofing across stadiums and other public venues.
As Uganda intensifies preparations for AFCON 2027—a tournament it will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania—the twin challenges of meeting international stadium standards and ensuring spectator safety have moved to the forefront of parliamentary debate, with lawmakers pressing for full disclosure of construction audits and a comprehensive safety review of all sports facilities.
About The Author
