Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has revealed the progress of the joint bid with Kenya and Tanzania to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The East African Nations are among the sides that bid to host the 2027 AFCON, putting together what they branded as the East Africa Pamoja bid.
The Pamoja bid, since the announcement was made, has received mixed reactions, with critics pointing at the nations’ lack of standard facilities.
While addressing the press on Tuesday at FUFA house in Mengo, FUFA boss Eng Moses Magogo confirmed the three venues.
These are Mandela National Stadium, Namboole which is under renovation, and proposed new stadiums in Hoima (on the land leased to FUFA by Rujumba family) and Lira City (at Akii Bua Stadium location).
Magogo added that they also submitted training facilities starting with Kampala International School (KISU).
CAF will send a mission team, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) from Switzerland), for inspection on July 28-29!
Magogo said that they as well submitted other facilities, and will be waiting for advise from CAF, as training facilities – Denver Goodwin stadium which is being constructed at Garuga, Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku, St Mary’s Stadium in Kitende and Nakivubo.
“CAF has designated a mission to come and do the inspection and this is one of the preliminary stage of our bidding,” Magogo said.
“We submitted documents, the team has to come and see if what we submitted is what we have on the ground.
“And the Executive committee of CAF will take a decision based on what the report of inspection says.”
The Mission team from CAF will be expected in Kenya first and FUFA’s Ronnie Kalema is already in Nairobi.
They will arrive in Uganda on July 28 before before inspecting Tanzania where FUFA’s Rogers Byamukama will be expected to be part.
Magogo called on every Ugandan to support the Pamoja bid because it’s “for all of us” and Government has committed to make massive investment in Sports Infrastructure for FUFA to execute the bid.
Uganda hosted CHOGM in 2007 and Magogo believes that a lot changed since then especially for the Hotels.
And he believes that the sports infrastructure in the country will never be the same after this Pamoja Bid.
“AFCON 2023 which will be hosted next year, there is still some construction that is going on in Ivory Coast, meaning awarding and constructing are two different things but we believe that we have the minimum requirements for us to be awarded and be ready by 2027.
“The interest of the team coming has already been written to us; check stadiums, training grounds, airport, hotels and hospitals. Those are the five areas marked out.”
“The bids are awarded on plans not realities that exist. We have the plans to ensure that by 2027, in case we are given the bid, we shall put in place the right infrastructure required and that’s what the inspectors are coming to see.”
Mulango (Hospital), Two hotels (Serena and Sheraton), Entebbe Airport (Airport) will also be inspected as sample space to give a clear picture of the country’s readiness.
Magogo added: “The guarantee we have from Government is that the resources are available to ensure that these facilities are put to the standard that are required for us to host AFCON.”
The East Africa Pamoja Bid faces stiff competition from Senegal, Algeria, Nigeria and Botswana.
“Just like Botswana, We are the only ones that have never hosted AFCON before. And According to CAF, the first opportunities are given to those that have never hosted, we also believe in our bid because it’s supported by three Federations and three Heads of State. We also believe that we have what it takes to host Africa in this region.”
“I believe this will improve on our Sports Infrastructure landscape, we also believe it will be a turnaround for this region to start competitively in football on the continent.”
Its strong to remember that Kenya was awarded the AFCON finals in 1996, but it was stripped of the chance due to the Country’s unreadiness then.
