Ugandan Members of Parliament (MPs) have advised the Ministry of Education and Sports to take steps to ensure that all processes necessary for hosting the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) are free from corruption. This advice comes in response to the government’s announcement that Uganda will co-host the AFCON 2027 tournament with Kenya and Tanzania.
During a parliamentary session, lawmakers expressed concerns that corruption could hinder Uganda’s ability to meet the requirements for successfully hosting AFCON. They urged the government to take measures to prevent corruption, drawing attention to past instances of corruption during the hosting of international events, such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2007.
Mr. Geoffrey Kayemba Ssolo, the Shadow Minister for Sports, emphasized the importance of avoiding a situation similar to the one experienced during CHOGM, stating, “We don’t want to get into a situation like we had with CHOGM. I want the thieves to stay away from the preparations for AFCON.”
Ms. Agnes Ameede, the Butebo Woman MP, echoed these concerns and called for contracts and construction work related to sports facilities, including stadiums, to be awarded based on merit. She emphasized the need for timely execution of infrastructure enhancements and suggested that roles should be assigned based on expertise.
Mr. Barnabas Tinkasimire, the Buyaga West MP, urged the government to prepare for potential negative publicity during AFCON and mentioned the need to address issues like promoting homosexuality. He emphasized that the country should be prepared to communicate its stance on such matters to participating countries.
In response to these concerns, Mr. Moses Magogo, the President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa), stressed the importance of maintaining integrity in procurement processes. He also recommended considering construction companies with experience in building international-standard stadiums.
Mr. Magogo further suggested managing the stadium construction projects as turn-key projects to avoid delays and procurement challenges, which could lead to corruption. He also proposed extending tax waivers for importing equipment required for the construction.
State Minister for Sports, Mr. Peter Ogwang, reassured the MPs that Uganda and the PAMOJA Bid would successfully host AFCON. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that the tournament becomes the best in the history of AFCON. Mr. Ogwang urged his colleagues to allocate adequate funds in the national budget to support the preparations for AFCON.
