Uganda is facing a tight race against time to get its stadiums ready for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) flagged serious shortcomings in both infrastructure and operations.
A recent CAF inspection reveals that, as of February 2026, none of the country’s proposed venues meets the required Category 4 standard—the level needed to host AFCON matches. This puts immediate pressure on authorities to speed up upgrades and fix critical gaps.
The spotlight is firmly on two key venues: Hoima City Stadium and Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
Hoima City Stadium may be structurally complete, but CAF says it is far from ready to host a major tournament. Inspectors identified poor crowd control systems, with no proper separation between VIPs, media and ordinary fans. The dressing rooms fall below standard, media facilities are inadequate, and there is limited working space for match operations. Even the positioning of team benches was criticised for blocking spectators’ views.
CAF emphasises that the stadium now needs major operational redesign—not just construction—to meet international requirements.
The situation at Mandela National Stadium is even more demanding. CAF has called for significant reconstruction works, including partial demolition of the West Stand, expansion of key sections and a full roof overhaul. However, the proposed 15-month timeline for these works is already out of sync with AFCON 2027 deadlines, raising concerns about whether the venue will be ready in time.
With deadlines looming, CAF has set August 2026 as a decisive checkpoint to evaluate Uganda’s progress.
By then, Hoima is expected to have resolved its crowd flow issues, upgraded dressing rooms, improved media areas, relocated the mixed zone and fixed visibility problems in the stands.
For Namboole, officials must present a clear and revised upgrade plan, identify contractors and begin visible construction works. Improvements to hospitality sections and media infrastructure will also be required.
CAF will not only assess match venues but also training facilities. At least 80 percent of designated training sites must be complete, with proper lighting, functional dressing rooms and fully equipped technical areas.
Beyond the stadiums, Uganda still has major logistical hurdles to clear. Authorities must demonstrate that Hoima Airport can handle international traffic, ensure there is enough high-end hotel accommodation—including a minimum of five five-star hotels—and show progress on the Kampala–Hoima road network.
Medical preparedness is another key requirement, with emergency response systems and referral hospitals expected to be fully operational.
CAF says detailed technical reports have already been shared, and the next few months will be critical in determining whether Uganda can meet the standards needed to host the continental tournament.
