KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda is setting its sights higher on the global sports stage, with government officials revealing long-term ambitions to bid for the FIFA World Cup after successfully securing the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
According to government officials, preparations are already underway to strengthen sports infrastructure as part of a broader strategy that could position Uganda to make a credible World Cup bid for 2038 or a later edition.
The revelation was made by Kedrace Turyagyenda, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports, during a session with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee while discussing the December 2025 Auditor General’s report.
Her remarks followed concerns raised by Members of Parliament regarding the low remuneration of sports professionals. In response, Turyagyenda emphasized that the government’s immediate priority is the development of modern stadiums and sports infrastructure across the country.
She noted that Uganda plans to expand and construct larger stadiums with capacities of at least 45,000 seats to meet international standards.
“The broader infrastructure plan is to develop additional stadiums in different regions. Eventually, when we bid for the World Cup, we must have the required facilities in place,” she said, adding that future bidding cycles are already being considered.
Currently, Uganda’s major sports facilities include the Mandela National Stadium, commonly known as Namboole, which has a seating capacity of 45,000. The under-construction Hoima City Stadium features a 20,000-seat main arena, a 2,000-seat indoor sports hall, and related facilities, and will serve as one of the venues for AFCON 2027.
Meanwhile, the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira City is being developed into a modern multi-sport complex, with the main stadium expected to accommodate approximately 20,000 spectators upon completion.
However, apart from Namboole, the current stadium capacities fall short of FIFA World Cup hosting requirements. This means Uganda would need to invest in constructing larger venues and upgrading supporting infrastructure, including airports, road networks, and hospitality facilities. At present, the country has only one international airport at Entebbe.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the 2030 tournament is set for Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 2034 edition.
Officials say Uganda’s successful AFCON 2027 bid has strengthened confidence in the country’s ability to host major continental and potentially global sporting events.
Turyagyenda stressed that the development of at least three world-class stadiums will be critical to meeting FIFA standards and attracting future international competitions.
“With the right infrastructure, planning, and the experience gained from AFCON 2027, Uganda can turn this dream into reality,” she said.
