Will Namboole be ready for AFCON 2027?

Will the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole be ready for AFCON 2027?

This is, and was, the lingering question when members of parliament on the education and sports committee, led by chairperson Cuthbert Abigaba and his deputy Emmanuel Ongiertho, visited the facility on Monday to carry out their oversight role.

They were accompanied by engineers from the UPDF Engineering Brigade, including Project Engineer Peter Seku Kidemuka, Eng. Godfrey Kiberu, consultant Eng. Henry Lubega from the Ministry of Works, and a delegation from the National Council of Sports (NCS) led by chairman Ambrose Tashobya, who also chairs the Infrastructure Subcommittee of the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC), and General Secretary Bernard Patrick Ogwel.

The MPs took a guided tour of the ongoing works, which include redesigning and rebuilding sections of the facility to meet CAF Grade Four Stadium capacity of at least 40,000 seats.

The ongoing works at the Mandela National Stadium, October 6, 2026. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The UPDF is remodelling the facility at a cost of sh247b to seat at least 45,000 spectators, among other works intended to meet CAF and FIFA guidelines and standards, which made designs of previously built stadia obsolete for hosting international games.

They have also asked for an extra sh38b to mitigate against inflation and the rising dollar rates. The old Namboole Stadium is a 1970s design, implemented in 1997.

To prepare to host the previously held CHAN 2024 competition and the upcoming AFCON 2027 tournament, CAF inspected the stadium and recommended upgrades to the Mandela National Stadium's facilities.

Their recommendations included increasing the dressing rooms to four and moving them to the western wing, increasing spectator seating capacity and upgrading it to a FIFA Category 1 stadium, upgrading the football pitch, increasing the capacity of the media tribune and moving it to the western wing, building a canopy to cover the entire seating capacity, not partial, and making a clear segregation of spectators.

The ongoing works at the Mandela National Stadium, October 6, 2026. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

However, Kidemuka and the other technical personnel allayed their fears, assuring them and the public that the work will be completed on schedule.

“As we talk now, our physical progress stands at 51%. We have received funds amounting to sh220b, but we have spent around sh100b so far. That is about 49.9% of the money we have received so far,” Kidemuka told the meeting.

“Now, we are sure that we shall complete this work by the end of March 2027. This is a commitment we, the engineers, made. We are sure that it fits within the timelines, because it is a growing concern.

“And it is very clear that this work must be done by the end of February 26. So, we had to sit with other stakeholders, like the engineers here, and we came up with a new way to execute this work.

Lubega told the MPs that the structure was planned with CAF's infrastructure committee.

“We have also had input from other committees that helped shape our design, like the broadcast committee and the competitions committee. We've talked with the media and referees too,” Lubega noted.

“Each committee had its own needs, and we've made sure our design addresses them all. Once we complete a part of our work, we set up a Zoom meeting with CAF, and they provide feedback.”

NCS Chairman Ambrose Tashobya (with yellow helment) briefs MPs on ongoing works at the Mandela National Stadium Namboole, October 5, 2026. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“And we are sure that there is no company in Uganda which has a bigger workforce than the UPDF Engineering Brigade. We have over 3,600 workers. So, we still have the capacity, and we are sure that we shall make it.”

He said they had done extensive benchmarking in South Africa and Cameroon before executing the works because they are building a global brand. He added that they have so far received sh220b and have spent sh123b, because some of the money is committed funds for work yet to be executed.

Tashobya told the MPs that the project is being supervised by CAF’s Brenda Bianca who constantly keeps an eye on ongoing works.

He also explained that the extra sh38b requested to mitigate inflation and changes in dollar rates is subject to verification because there might not be time in an emergency to procure different items.

“But before they touch this money, it has to be fully verified to make sure that it will work. That's the issue.”

He said the signed contract was supposed to run up to February 7, but they are now working on a revised schedule of works to ensure they complete the works by the end of June.

The MPs also wanted to know whether there is a plan in place to ensure all these facilities are well maintained after AFCON, to which Ogwel said, "We have service providers available around the clock, especially for the pitches, which are in very good condition. We've engaged a service provider who consults and helps with maintenance. They really know their stuff and have the best expertise.”

“As a council, we've allocated funds and made provisions in Parliament to acquire all the necessary maintenance equipment. Our budget unit has already streamlined the processes for procuring this equipment. It's highly specialised gear; you can't do things manually. Most of the work will be handled by special machines.”

Once complete, the refurbished Namboole will have five floors with VIP, VVIP, and presidential lounges, plus lounges for the media and accredited broadcasters, among other categories on the Western wing.