Uganda has set December 31, 2026, as the deadline for completing the redevelopment of Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, as pressure mounts on the East African country to deliver its main venue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang says he is confident the latest phase of works at Uganda’s national stadium will be completed about six months before 2027 Afcon kicks off on June 19, 2027.
“By December 31st, Namboole will be ready,” Ogwang said after inspecting the facility.
“I visited Namboole on Sunday, and for once, I went home and slept peacefully. The day I give you access, you’ll be shocked. What has been done down there, you won’t believe,” he added.
Ugandan government has committed about Sh7.8 billion for Phase Two of the redevelopment, on top of approximately Sh3.2 billion spent on Phase One, taking the overall commitment to roughly KSh11 billion at current exchange rates.
From left: Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang’, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya, Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, and CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba address a press conference in Nairobi on June 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
Ogwang said the second phase was necessitated by additional requirements identified during CAF inspections as Uganda prepares to co-host the tournament with Kenya and Tanzania.
“I want to confirm that works on the Namboole main stadium are entirely under the UPDF Engineering Brigade. Government has earmarked funds worth $60 million for Phase Two,” Ogwang said when announcing the latest investment.
The overhaul is expected to increase seating capacity from about 38,000 to 45,000, while a wave-shaped roof canopy will cover the stadium and a new exterior façade incorporating Uganda’s national colours will be installed. Dressing rooms are being relocated to the western wing, while the media facilities will be upgraded to include a centre capable of accommodating more than 100 journalists.
The works also include improved access arrangements, surveillance systems and expanded VIP and VVIP facilities. Namboole has been under redevelopment since it was first handed to the UPDF Engineers Brigade in February 2022.
It temporarily returned to international use before being closed again for additional works required to bring the facility in line with CAF standards. The December 31 deadline comes as Uganda simultaneously accelerates work on facilities that will support Namboole during the tournament.
On August 18, 2026, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations handed over Fufa Stadium Kadiba in Kampala to the government through the National Council of Sports for redevelopment into a CAF-certified Afcon training ground. The UPDF Engineers Brigade will undertake approximately KSh180 million worth of works at Kadiba over six months, including installation of a standard natural grass playing surface, improvements to floodlights, electrical works and ICT installations.
“The project cost is UGX5.1 billion and the completion time is six months. The UPDF Engineers Brigade is committed to completing these works with the highest quality of workmanship,” Col James Rwegaba said at the time.
Fufa president Moses Magogo said Kadiba’s transformation should also leave a long-term legacy for Ugandan football.
FUFA President Moses Magogo.
Photo credit: Filel | Nation Media Group
“It’s very historic for us that where our talents have been developed is eventually becoming a home of football,” Magogo said.
Kadiba has expanded from approximately four acres originally provided by Namirembe Diocese to about 6.4 acres, with Fufa receiving support from Fifa and the government in developing the property. Uganda is developing several other training facilities as part of the Afcon programme, with the army engineers working on grounds including Makerere University, Kyambogo University and other sites around the country. But Namboole remains the centrepiece of Kampala’s preparations and the biggest test of the government’s ability to meet its infrastructure deadlines.
With the tournament only months away, by the time Ogwang’s December deadline arrives, Uganda will have little room for further delays before welcoming the continent in June 2027.
