Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have entered a new phase, with the Government unveiling a major package of financial, logistical and infrastructure support aimed at transforming the Uganda Cranes into a better-equipped national team ahead of the continental showpiece. FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim says the expanded partnership with Government is already changing the standards of national-team operations, with players set to benefit from improved travel, accommodation, allowances and match preparations. Uganda, alongside Kenya and Tanzania, will host AFCON 2027 in June next year, making the tournament a defining moment for the country’s football ambitions.
At the heart of the new arrangement is an upgraded welfare package for the senior Cranes. Ugandan players based abroad who face journeys exceeding four hours will travel business class, while the national team is expected to receive a new team bus and access to chartered flights for demanding back-to-back fixtures where necessary. The Cranes will also stay in five-star hotels during camps in Uganda and abroad whenever possible. Government has further agreed to improved bonuses and allowances, including a pro-rata USD 10,000 qualification bonus for each player who featured in Uganda’s successful AFCON 2025 qualification campaign. FUFA says the measures are intended to create a professional environment worthy of a team preparing to compete on Africa’s biggest football stage.
Beyond the senior side, Uganda’s football development machine is operating across multiple age groups and disciplines. The U-15 team is preparing for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan from 22 to 31 October 2026, while two U-17 squads are being prepared for separate international assignments, including the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar and the African qualifiers for the 2027 edition. The U-20 team is in Tanzania pursuing qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations U-20, while the Sand Cranes and Crested Cranes have their own continental and Olympic assignments ahead. FUFA says this extensive calendar is designed to strengthen the player pathway and ensure that tomorrow’s senior Cranes are developed through sustained international competition.
Infrastructure is also emerging as one of the biggest legacies of AFCON 2027. Government-backed developments are expected to leave Uganda with three international-standard stadiums at Namboole, Hoima and Akii-Bua, alongside new training facilities in the northern, Hoima and Namboole clusters. Discussions are also continuing over additional facilities in Mbarara, Fort Portal, Jinja, Mbale and the West Nile region, with the broader ambition of having a Uganda Premier League-standard facility in each of the country’s 18 provinces. FUFA says up to UGX 32 billion in additional funding has been committed to various initiatives, while Government support has also been extended to clubs and policy reforms are being pursued to strengthen professional football and the wider sports economy.
On the pitch, the Cranes remain active despite already having a guaranteed place at AFCON 2027 as co-hosts. The team is currently preparing in Tunis for its qualifier against Tunisia before returning home for a historic encounter with Libya in Hoima on 29 September 2026 at 7:00pm—the first Uganda Cranes AFCON qualifier to be staged outside Kampala. At the same time, FUFA is intensifying efforts to identify eligible Ugandan players born or raised abroad, with officials engaging players, families and agents across several countries. Magogo believes the combination of stronger player welfare, a wider talent pool, modern facilities and unprecedented commercial attention could give Ugandan football a lasting boost beyond the tournament itself. AFCON 2027, he argues, is more than a competition—it is an opportunity to reshape Uganda’s football landscape.
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