Eronda
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 1,157
- 590
As Uganda intensifies preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), growing concerns are emerging over the pace of renovation works at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. With the Local Organising Committee setting December 31 as the deadline for the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation, recent inspections suggest the target may be increasingly difficult to achieve.
Those concerns were amplified on Monday when the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports visited the stadium as part of its ongoing assessment of Uganda's readiness to host Africa's biggest football tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
The committee's visit was intended to evaluate the progress of key sports infrastructure projects, but what members found has raised fresh questions about whether the country's flagship stadium will be ready on time.
Namboole remains central to Uganda's AFCON 2027 ambitions. The stadium is expected to serve as a cornerstone venue for the tournament, making the timely completion of its upgrades an issue of national importance. Any delays could have far-reaching implications for Uganda's preparations and its commitments under the joint hosting arrangement.
Members of Parliament reportedly expressed concern over the pace of work, noting that visible progress on several sections of the project appeared slower than expected despite the looming deadline. With only a limited period remaining before December 31, the pressure is mounting on contractors and supervising authorities to accelerate construction activities.
The slow pace has inevitably sparked public debate. Sports fans and stakeholders are questioning whether enough work can be completed within the remaining timeframe. While officials continue to express confidence that the project will be delivered, observations from recent inspections paint a picture of a facility still requiring substantial attention.
The stakes could not be higher. AFCON 2027 represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Uganda to showcase its sporting infrastructure and organizational capacity on the continental stage. Delays at Namboole would not only affect Uganda's preparations but could also attract scrutiny from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which expects host nations to meet strict infrastructure standards.
For now, the December 31 deadline remains in place. However, as construction crews race against time, the question on the minds of many Ugandans remains unanswered:
Will Namboole beat the December 31 deadline, or is Uganda heading toward another costly delay in its AFCON 2027 preparations?