A new report by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed that Uganda is still far from meeting the required standards to host matches for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), raising concerns over the country’s preparedness.
According to the assessment conducted in February 2026, none of the proposed competition stadiums in Uganda currently meets CAF Category 4 requirements. The report indicates that Uganda’s AFCON 2027 infrastructure programme remains in a “mixed phase” involving construction, upgrades, and operational redesign.
Hoima City Stadium Under Scrutiny
The report highlights several operational deficiencies at Hoima City Stadium, despite the facility being structurally complete. Key issues include poor segregation of spectators, inadequate dressing rooms for players and referees, substandard media facilities, and wrongly positioned benches obstructing fans’ view.
CAF noted that while the stadium is operational, it requires significant reconfiguration to align with international standards.
Mandela National Stadium Faces Major Upgrades
Meanwhile, Mandela National Stadium in Kampala has been flagged for major compliance gaps. Planned upgrades include partial demolition of the West Stand, structural expansion, and roof replacement.
However, CAF warned that the proposed 15-month construction timeline does not align with AFCON 2027 deadlines, urging authorities to revise their upgrade strategy.
Key Deadlines Ahead of August 2026 Inspection
CAF has outlined priority actions to be achieved before its next inspection in August 2026. For Hoima City Stadium, authorities must complete redesigns of spectator flow, upgrade dressing rooms, improve media facilities, and fix viewing obstructions.
For Mandela National Stadium, CAF expects confirmation of contractors, visible construction progress, and clear implementation plans aligned with tournament deadlines.
Additionally, training infrastructure across the country must reach at least 80% completion, including certified lighting, rehabilitated training grounds, and operational technical facilities.
Pressure Mounts on Uganda
With time running out, the report piles pressure on Ugandan authorities to accelerate works and address critical gaps to meet CAF standards.
Failure to meet these requirements could put the country’s role as host of AFCON 2027 at risk, as CAF continues to closely monitor progress ahead of the tournament.
