Uganda’s Namboole stadium works raise fresh AFCON 2027 concerns

Uganda’s parliamentary committee during an inspection on October 5, 2026/SCREENGRAB

Uganda’s preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have come under renewed scrutiny following concerns over the pace of renovation works at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The concerns emerged Monday when the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports inspected the stadium as part of an assessment of Uganda’s readiness to host the continental tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania.

The inspection was aimed at establishing the progress of key sports infrastructure projects, but the state of works at Namboole has raised questions over whether the facility will be ready by the December 31 deadline set by the Local Organising Committee.

Namboole is expected to play a central role in Uganda’s AFCON 2027 hosting plans, making the completion of its rehabilitation one of the country’s most closely watched projects ahead of the tournament.

Members of the parliamentary committee expressed concern over the pace of works, with observations from the inspection suggesting that several sections of the stadium still require substantial work.

The lawmakers’ concerns come at a critical time, with the deadline fast approaching and pressure mounting on contractors and supervising agencies to accelerate the project.

The stadium is among the key facilities that Uganda must have ready as part of the joint hosting arrangement with Kenya and Tanzania.

A section of the Namboole stadium in Uganda which is undergoing construction/SCREENGRABThe three East African neighbours were awarded the rights to host the 2027 AFCON, giving the region an opportunity to stage the continent’s premier football tournament for the first time in a joint arrangement.

For Uganda, however, Namboole remains a major test of its preparedness.

The facility has undergone several phases of rehabilitation in recent years, with the latest works aimed at bringing it up to the standards required for international football.

The parliamentary inspection has now intensified questions over whether the remaining works can be completed within the available time.

“We have seen the progress and we have raised our concerns,” a member of the committee said during the assessment.

The concerns are also likely to attract greater attention from football stakeholders and supporters, who are keen to see Uganda deliver a stadium capable of hosting major AFCON fixtures.

Officials have continued to maintain confidence in the project and the country’s ability to meet its commitments.

Across the three host nations, nine stadiums have been earmarked as competition venues for, three each in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

But their readiness varies significantly.

The venues earmarked for the tournament in Kenya are Talanta Stadium, Kasarani Stadium and Nyayo National Stadium.

The ongoing construction works at Namboole Stadium in Uganda/SCREENGRABTalanta, the new 60,000-seater facility, is about 98 per cent complete, with officials targeting December 31 for completion, although technical, accessibility and operational issues remain.

Kasarani is also undergoing renovations, with works on the pitch almost complete.

Other venues in Uganda are Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium and Hoima City Stadium.

Akii-Bua is about 80 per cent complete, while Hoima City Stadium is structurally complete and about 95 per cent of CAF-identified upgrades had been addressed by September.

In Tanzania, the three competition venues are Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the new Samia Suluhu Stadium in Arusha and Fumba Stadium in Zanzibar.

Tanzania is considered the most advanced of the three hosts in terms of overall stadium infrastructure.

Benjamin Mkapa is undergoing upgrades, particularly to the playing surface, while Arusha’s new stadium has been progressing towards completion.

Fumba, a new facility in Zanzibar, was reported at about 65 per cent in July.

AFCON 2027 is expected to provide Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania with an opportunity to showcase East Africa’s sporting infrastructure and organisational capacity to a continental audience.

The sports complex along Ngong Road features football and rugby pitches, spectator stands, VIP facilities and visitor spaces

National Assembly Sports Committee chair Dan Wanyama said the inspection had given lawmakers a clear picture of Kenya’s preparedness and confidence that the country is closing in on its Afcon deadline.