CAF Report Exposes Major Gaps in Uganda’s AFCON 2027 Stadium Preparations

Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have come under fresh scrutiny after a new Confederation of African Football (CAF) report revealed that none of the country’s four proposed stadiums currently meets the governing body’s stringent Category 4 standards required to host matches at the continental showpiece.

The assessment, which reflects the status of Uganda’s infrastructure programme as of February 2026, paints a picture of a nation making progress in several key areas but still facing significant structural, operational and logistical challenges.While construction and renovation works are ongoing across multiple venues, CAF says substantial improvements must be delivered within a limited timeframe if Uganda is to fulfil its hosting obligations alongside Kenya and Tanzania.

Uganda, which is set to stage AFCON for the first time in its history as part of the East African joint bid, has identified four stadiums for the tournament. These include the renovated Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, the newly constructed Hoima City Stadium, the under-construction Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira, and additional supporting facilities intended to serve as training venues throughout the competition.

According to the report, the country’s overall readiness will largely be determined by the successful completion and operational compliance of three critical components: Hoima City Stadium, Mandela National Stadium and an extensive network of training grounds spread across the designated host clusters. CAF believes these projects will ultimately define Uganda’s ability to meet international tournament standards before the competition kicks off.Although Hoima City Stadium has reached structural completion, CAF says the venue still falls well short of the operational requirements expected of a Category 4 stadium.

The report identifies several shortcomings, including inadequate segregation between different categories of spectators, poor circulation routes that allow media personnel, VIP guests, teams and supporters to intersect, dressing rooms that fail to meet CAF specifications for players and match officials, and media facilities that require significant enhancement.

CAF further notes that the stadium’s mixed zones have been incorrectly positioned, some spectator viewing angles remain obstructed, while insufficient operational buffer space could create challenges on matchdays. The continental governing body concludes that extensive operational redesign and reconfiguration will be required before the stadium can be approved to host AFCON fixtures.

Mandela National Stadium, Uganda’s flagship football venue, also faces a demanding list of compliance requirements despite ongoing renovation works. CAF recommends partial demolition of the existing West Stand, structural expansion of key sections, and replacement of the stadium roof as part of a comprehensive redevelopment programme aimed at elevating the facility to full Category 4 status.

The report also raises concerns over the pace of the renovation works at Namboole. CAF believes the current 15-month construction timeline is incompatible with the countdown to AFCON 2027 and has urged stakeholders to adopt a revised implementation strategy capable of accelerating progress without compromising construction standards or safety requirements.

Attention will now turn to CAF’s scheduled inspection mission in August 2026, which is expected to provide the clearest indication yet of Uganda’s preparedness to host the tournament. Inspectors will conduct detailed assessments at both Hoima City Stadium and Mandela National Stadium to establish whether meaningful progress has been achieved since the latest evaluation.

At Hoima City Stadium, CAF officials will examine redesigned spectator circulation systems, relocated mixed zones, upgraded dressing rooms, improved dugouts and enhanced media infrastructure. These operational improvements are considered essential if the venue is to satisfy international tournament requirements before the final approval process.

Meanwhile, inspections at Mandela National Stadium will focus on structural redevelopment, hospitality suites, corporate skyboxes, spectator movement, media operations and the overall pace of construction. CAF expects the renovation works to have surpassed the 50 percent completion mark by the time inspectors arrive later this year.

Away from the match venues, Uganda’s designated training facilities will also come under close examination. CAF requires priority training grounds to have achieved at least 80 percent completion while ensuring that dressing rooms, technical facilities, pitch maintenance equipment and floodlighting systems capable of producing a minimum of 2,500 lux are fully operational before the tournament.

The report extends beyond stadium infrastructure, highlighting the importance of supporting services that will underpin a successful AFCON tournament. CAF is seeking confirmation that Hoima Airport will be ready to handle tournament operations, while sufficient hotel accommodation must be validated to cater for participating teams, officials, media representatives and supporters travelling to Uganda.

Transport infrastructure has equally been identified as a priority area. CAF expects measurable progress of at least 40 percent on the Kampala-Hoima road corridor, a key transport link expected to facilitate movement between venues. The governing body has also stressed that hospitals, emergency medical services and wider disaster response systems must be fully functional well before the competition begins.

CAF has made it clear that the August inspection mission will represent a decisive milestone in Uganda’s AFCON 2027 journey. Beyond evaluating physical construction, inspectors will assess operational readiness, infrastructure integration and compliance with every aspect of the tournament’s hosting requirements.

“The inspection will verify demonstrable and measurable progress across all priority areas,”

CAF stated in its report, underlining the importance of tangible improvements before the next stage of the continental body’s evaluation process.

With less than two years remaining before Africa’s biggest football tournament kicks off, Uganda now faces a race against time to transform ambitious infrastructure projects into fully compliant world-class facilities capable of delivering a successful AFCON 2027.