Uganda team picture during the 2024 African Nations Championship, CHAN, football match between South Africa and Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium, Kampala on the 18 August 2025 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Friday Mar 27, 2026. 15:00
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has informed Uganda that none of their three stadiums meet Category 4 requirements for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Uganda was chosen to co-host the tournament alongside East African neighbours Kenya and Tanzania in September 2023, but two and a half years later their infrastructure is nowhere near complete.
CAF inspected the country’s proposed venues last month to gauge progress and noted that their readiness depends on three projects: Mandela National Stadium, Hoima City Stadium and a network of training facilities around the three host cities.
Mandela National Stadium in Kampala is undergoing renovation as the main venue, but CAF recommended partial demolition of the West Stand, structural expansion and for the roof to be replaced.
Hoima City Stadium in Hoima was said to be structurally complete, although issues with segregation between spectator categories, non-compliant dressing rooms for players and referees, media facilities, mixed zones and obstructed views remain.
Meanwhile, Akii Bua Stadium in Lira is still under construction, with the aim of matching Hoima City’s capacity of 20,000.
CAF will have another inspection in August and warned that its findings will prove decisive in determining whether progress has been made in all priority areas.