AFCON 2027: First Lady chairs 1st inter-ministerial meeting

KAMPALA - The first inter-ministerial meeting has been held to prepare for Uganda's co-hosting of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 and African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025.

The meeting aimed to ensure timely involvement of all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The meeting, held at State House Nakasero on Thursday (November 28, 2024), was chaired by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Janet Museveni, who also chairs the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for both events.

Twelve Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State, Permanent Secretaries, and senior officials from Government Departments and Agencies attended, alongside representatives from the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and the AFCON-2027 LOC.

They discussed Uganda's preparation requirements for hosting CHAN-2025 and AFCON-2027.

Mrs. Museveni emphasized that the inter-ministerial steering forum would provide valuable perspectives for successfully hosting both events.

"I want to thank the Almighty God who has inclined our hearts together to join our hands as government to lift the banner of our homeland as we co-host CHAN-2025 and later AFCON-2027," she said.

She highlighted that all participating Ministries and Agencies must include AFCON-related activities in their Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), given their distinct roles in the preparations.

"Our effective coordination as the government shall enable the Local Organizing Committee for AFCON-2027 to fulfil its overall mandate. This mandate is: “To plan, organize, and execute various aspects of ensuring successful co-hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 tournament – including its curtain raiser event of CHAN-2025”, she stated.

She noted that the government's effectiveness would be measured by stakeholder participation—including fans, sponsors, and the public—in AFCON-2027 activities in Uganda.

Mrs. Museveni outlined various forms of participation: attending matches at stadiums, television viewership, following events through digital platforms, and purchasing event-related products and services.

"As you can see, all these forms of participation require us to have very good coordination to ensure that this participation is in a safe manner for those involved, but also not at an unbearable inconvenience for other persons who are going about their other business in the country," she added.

Key planning areas she identified include airport operations, traffic management within one kilometer of stadiums, and accommodation facilities in Kampala, Wakiso, Hoima, Masindi, Gulu, and Lira Districts—where event activities will take place.

She recommended that each stakeholder MDA appoints an AFCON-2027 focal person to facilitate planning, coordination, and swift information sharing.

Mrs. Museveni stressed the importance of maintaining a single communication channel to avoid public confusion from multiple agencies making statements about event preparations.

The meeting reviewed Uganda's commitments made in May 2023 during the AFCON-2027 co-hosting bid.

FUFA President, Engineer Moses Magogo, outlined the tournaments' benefits, including legacy sporting infrastructure for future competitions, presence of top African sports stars, enhanced national image, foreign exchange earnings from visitors, national unity through shared experience, and increased employment and business opportunities.

The Ministers and MDA representatives pledged their commitment to fulfilling Uganda's co-hosting obligations for AFCON-2027.

The Ministers who attended the meeting were Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi (Security), Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero (Health), Minsa Kabanda (Kampala Capital City Authority and Metropolitan Affairs), Peter Ogwang (State for Sports), Henry Musasizi (State for General Duties, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development), Henry Okello Oryem (State for Foreign Affairs), Joyce Nabbosa (State for ICT), Gen. Mbasu Mbadi (State for Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives), Victoria Rusoke (State for Local Government), Mugarura Martin (State for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities).

In attendance also were Permanent Secretaries: Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda — Education, Dr. Aminah Zawedde — ICT and NG, and Mrs. Rosettie Byengoma — Defense and Veteran Affairs. Others included the Inspector General of Police, Acting Executive Director UCC, Deputy Director General Civil Aviation Authority, Registrar General, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, the Ag. Executive Director KCCA, plus senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Sports, Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Works and Transport, Internal Affairs, Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Office of the President, URA and FUFA.