Sh42b hotel fund targets Gulu, Lira ahead of AFCON 2027
Ogwang said the funds will be accessed by private hotel operators through a government-supported financing arrangement managed in partnership with the Uganda Development Bank (UDB).
State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang said successful applicants will access the money at an interest rate of five per cent and will be given a three-year grace period before beginning repayment. (File photo)
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The Government has set aside sh42b to support private hotel investors in Gulu and Lira as part of preparations to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang has said.
The financing is intended to help hotel owners in the two northern Uganda cities to renovate, expand and improve their facilities to meet the expected demand for accommodation during the continental football tournament.
Ogwang said the funds will be accessed by private hotel operators through a government-supported financing arrangement managed in partnership with the Uganda Development Bank (UDB).
He said successful applicants will access the money at an interest rate of five per cent and will be given a three-year grace period before beginning repayment.
“The money is there for the private sector. Hotel owners will be able to borrow and repay at 5 per cent, with a grace period of three years, depending on how the investor engages with UDB,” Ogwang said.
He was speaking during a two-day Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) regional consultative meeting held at Acholi Inn Hotel in Gulu City on September 19, 2026.
The meeting brought together legislators and other leaders to discuss development priorities and opportunities in the Acholi sub-region, including infrastructure, tourism, investment, sports and preparations for AFCON 2027.
Uganda, together with Kenya and Tanzania, is scheduled to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Ogwang said Gulu and Lira have been identified to play an important role in the country's preparations and could benefit from increased business activity associated with the tournament.
He said the Ministry of Education and Sports will engage hotel owners in the two cities to assess their facilities and determine the improvements required to meet the standards expected for hosting teams, officials and other visitors.
The minister said he would write to hotel owners in Gulu and Lira and invite them to a meeting with officials from the ministry and other agencies involved in the AFCON preparations.
The proposed financing is expected to provide an opportunity for hotel operators in northern Uganda to upgrade existing facilities rather than wait for new accommodation establishments to be constructed.
The investment is also expected to have wider implications for the hospitality sector, including restaurants, transport services, tour operators, suppliers and other businesses that depend on visitors.
Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) chairperson and Omoro District Woman MP Catherine Lamwaka welcomed the proposed support, saying the region needs to position itself to benefit from major national programmes and emerging economic opportunities.
Lamwaka said the hotel financing should be viewed as part of a wider effort to ensure that government programmes translate into tangible benefits for communities in northern Uganda.
She said the APG's regional consultations were aimed at bringing leaders and other stakeholders together to identify opportunities and strengthen coordination in pursuing development for the Acholi sub-region.
“We want to build synergy with regional leaders to strengthen teamwork, coordination and a unified approach to regional development,” Lamwaka said during the consultative engagement.
Lamwaka, who was elected APG chairperson in July, said the group wants to focus on social and economic transformation in Acholi, including wealth creation, education and poverty reduction.
She said opportunities linked to AFCON should be planned carefully so that communities in the region can benefit beyond the tournament period.
Kilak South MP Gilbert Olanya said the hotel investment programme should be implemented in a manner that creates lasting economic opportunities for northern Uganda. Olanya said Acholi sub-region should use major events such as AFCON to improve infrastructure and attract private investment rather than focus only on preparations for the tournament.
Olanya has previously called for greater investment in regional sports infrastructure, arguing that developing facilities outside Kampala can create opportunities for young people and strengthen sports development across the country.
Gulu District Chairperson Justine Obol also welcomed the proposed hotel financing, saying increased investment in the hospitality sector could stimulate economic activity in the district.
Obol said Gulu's position as a regional commercial centre gives it an opportunity to benefit from increased visitor numbers, provided the city and surrounding areas have adequate accommodation and supporting infrastructure.
He said local leaders would need to work with the central government and private investors to ensure that the expected opportunities from AFCON translate into employment and business opportunities for local communities.
The proposed hotel financing comes at a time when Acholi leaders are seeking to attract more investment to the sub-region.
During the APG consultative meeting, leaders called for stronger cooperation among political, cultural, religious and business leaders to accelerate development in Acholi.
The meeting, held under the theme “From Policy to Impact: Fast-tracking the success of government programmes and harnessing upcoming opportunities for socio-economic transformation in the Acholi sub-region,” focused on translating government programmes into measurable benefits for communities.
Ogwang urged hotel owners in Gulu and Lira to begin preparing their facilities for assessment rather than wait until preparations for the tournament are at an advanced stage.
He said the Government-supported financing is intended for private-sector investment, adding that individual investors will have to engage UDB on the specific terms and requirements for accessing the funds.
The assessment will establish the capacity of existing hotels, identify gaps and determine which facilities can be upgraded and approved to accommodate teams, officials and visitors during AFCON.
The Government hopes that investment ahead of AFCON will leave behind improved accommodation facilities and a stronger hospitality sector capable of serving visitors long after the tournament ends.