A flurry of infrastructure projects has taken shape in the run-up to the 2027 ‘PAMOJA’ Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania will co-host. Sports facilities long left in ruin are being hastily renovated, while a handful of grand new structures are rising.
In Uganda’s case, two multi-purpose stadiums are being built, one in Lira, named after 1972 Munich Olympian John Akii-Bua, and the other a 20,000 seater in Hoima, western Uganda.
Citizens, who had grown accustomed to watching in frustration as neighboring Rwanda flaunted super-facilities like the Kigali Arena, now find themselves daring to hope again.
Parliament recently approved Shs 257.155 billion supplementary funds for the completion of Hoima Stadium, construction of Akii-Bua Stadium, upgrading of approved training facilities for AFCON, and operational expenses for hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The continental showpiece for locally based players, due in August 2025, is a crucial precursor to AFCON. Meanwhile, final touches are being applied to Mandela National Stadium, alias Namboole.
However, amidst the excitement, concerns have emerged.
Dr. Joseph Ruyonga (Hoima West, NRM), chairperson of the Health Committee, and his vice, Dr. Samuel Opio Acuti (Kole North, NRM), are worried that the rapid construction in the sports sector lacks corresponding investment in health facilities around the host areas.
The duo, while meeting with officials from the health sector in Parliament led by the Health minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, and Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, said the lack of quality health facilities in the host cities had cast a dark shadow on Uganda’s readiness for the crowd-pulling tournament.
“Ministry of Works is upgrading airports and also constructing roads for AFCON. But we are not hearing anything about the health preparedness for AFCON. We know Hoima and Lira cities will also be hosting, and we have more than 20,000 fans coming in. Are we prepared with what is available? If not, what is the gap that perhaps needs to be addressed to cover that?” Acuti wondered.
Chipping in, Ruyonga, who represents the Hoima West division, admitted that he had run out of words to tell his voters since work on the maternal and child health complex had stalled.
“Ministry of Finance, I understand you put Shs 10 billion for those uncompleted projects. When we were presenting Budget Framework Papers (BFPs), the director of the hospital talked about fifty mothers dying in Hoima hospital, I think, for the whole year. But that thing circulated everywhere, and they were pointing fingers at us, especially me. Now people are there waiting they wanted to demonstrate,” he said.
Ministry responds
Responding to the duo’s concerns, Aceng acknowledged that while there seems to be some provision for CHAN, they are tongue-tied when it comes to AFCON. She admitted that hospitals in the host regions lack the capacity to handle serious cases.
“The health sector actually sits on the committee for AFCON. We have been making plans, we were allowed and the commissioner of emergency medical services will talk about this. We were only allowed to submit a small budget for what is happening soon, CHAN. But the budget for AFCON, we have not been allowed to submit. We have been asked to look within the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). It is tough,” Aceng stated.
“Moving forward, knowing very well that the districts hosting AFCON, Kampala may have capacity, but Hoima and Lira lack capacity. So, we need to look seriously into that even for Intensive Care Unit (ICU), we are not able to admit. Actually, there is no ICU in Lira. Because where there was an ICU, we put dialysis.”
Her response, however, stirred more controversy, with lawmakers including Dr. Didi George Boka (Obongi County, NRM) and Dr. Nicholas Thaddeus Kamara (Kabale Municipality, FDC) questioning whether there was any plan for AFCON or if the government was merely reverting to its firefighting antics.
“Sports health goes beyond preparing for tournaments. What is your plan as ministry of health in collaboration with ministry of education in investing in sports health as a specialty at a time when the country is gaining traction as a sporting nation?” Boka asked.
Kamara said they were worried about this state of affairs.
“I was in Hoima; I think in the last two weeks or so. We even visited the stadium and we asked them as the health committee about the preparation for the emergency services and also health care. Because they are going to host over 20,000 people and not once, maybe three times and they were cagey,” he said.
