Uganda: Museveni Directs Single East African Visa for AFCON 2027

• Ugandan President Museveni has directed government agencies to expedite preparations for co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Kenya and Tanzania.
• Key directives include accelerating infrastructure projects like stadiums, training facilities, and transport networks to meet CAF standards by December 2026.
• Museveni is advocating for a single East African visa to facilitate regional travel for AFCON 2027 attendees, engaging his counterparts on the proposal.
• Uganda's Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium is approximately 80% complete, while Hoima City Stadium upgrades have reached about 95%.
• CAF President Patrice Motsepe has acknowledged preparation challenges but expressed confidence in the host nations' ability to meet requirements before the June 2027 kick-off.

President Museveni is set to engage his Kenyan and Tanzanian counterparts to advance a proposed single East African visa, aiming to streamline movement for fans, teams, and officials across the three host nations during the tournament.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has issued a directive to government agencies, urging them to significantly speed up the country's preparations for co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Kenya and Tanzania. This mandate, delivered from State House Entebbe, followed a crucial meeting with Samson Adamu, the Acting Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and Uganda's National AFCON Task Force, led by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja. The discussions primarily centered on Uganda's readiness to host matches for the continental championship, which is slated to commence on June 19, 2027.

The President specifically called for the rapid implementation of essential infrastructure projects. These include the construction and upgrade of stadiums, training facilities, roads, airport infrastructure, and accommodation options within the designated host cities. Museveni emphasized the critical need for these projects to adhere strictly to established timelines and to meet the stringent standards set by CAF, ensuring Uganda's compliance as a host nation. Uganda plans to stage matches at Kampala's Mandela National Stadium, Hoima City Stadium, and Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira, supported by several designated training facilities.

Progress reports from Uganda's Local Organising Committee indicate that the three primary competition stadiums are on track for completion by December 2026. This assessment follows a second physical inspection conducted by CAF, which also evaluated nine of Uganda's designated training facilities. Specific updates show Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium as approximately 80 percent complete, while upgrades at Hoima City Stadium have reached about 95 percent, incorporating additional requirements identified by CAF. Beyond sports venues, the government has also prioritized improvements in roads, aviation, accommodation, health services, and other supporting infrastructure, with Hoima, for instance, seeing developments at Kabalega International Airport to support the influx of teams, officials, and visitors.

A significant aspect of President Museveni's directive involves enhancing regional coordination among the three co-host nations. He underscored the importance of facilitating seamless movement for football fans, participating teams, officials, and other visitors across East Africa during the tournament. To achieve this, Museveni announced his intention to engage his counterparts in Kenya and Tanzania regarding a proposed single East African visa arrangement.

This East African single visa proposal is designed to simplify cross-border travel between the three host countries for AFCON 2027, significantly contributing to AFCON 2027 regional travel facilitation. The initiative forms a key component of the broader regional coordination efforts under the PAMOJA hosting arrangement, aiming for Uganda Kenya Tanzania visa harmonization. Such a measure would streamline entry requirements and potentially boost tourism and economic activity across the region during the championship, marking a notable development in Uganda immigration policy for AFCON.

While preparations are intensifying, CAF President Patrice Motsepe recently acknowledged that the three host countries still face considerable challenges in their readiness. Despite these hurdles, Motsepe expressed confidence that Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania would ultimately meet the necessary requirements for the tournament. He urged all parties to accelerate their efforts significantly in the lead-up to the June 2027 kick-off.

Uganda is now entering a critical phase of its preparations, with the government facing strict deadlines for the completion of stadiums, training grounds, and all supporting infrastructure. Concurrently, arrangements must be finalized to accommodate the anticipated large-scale movement of teams, officials, and supporters. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations holds historical significance as it marks the first occasion the continental championship will be jointly staged across three different countries, underscoring the magnitude of the organizational and logistical tasks at hand.

Lawyers and compliance officers should closely monitor developments regarding the proposed single East African visa for AFCON 2027, as it could significantly alter immigration and cross-border travel regulations between Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. This may necessitate advising clients on new entry requirements, compliance protocols for regional operations, and potential impacts on business and tourism sectors during the tournament.

Source: Original reporting via Nile Post