The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Local Organising Committee (AfCON LOC) has unveiled dozens of areas in which Ugandans can invest as plans to host the tournament gain momentum. At a higher level, the roads, airports and hotels are already being upgraded to be ready for Africa’s premier sporting event.
But the government says much more is in store for the ordinary people who are willing to invest in the supply of goods and services just before and during the tournament, including IT and Communications, Catering, among others. The government has already set aside 101 million Shillings for hotel investors in areas where there will be AfCON activities like matches, training and accommodation, especially upcountry venues like Hoima and Masindi.
CAF has shortlisted prospective hotel owners whose facilities will be upgraded to meet the required accommodation standards. The funds to be accessed at low interest rates through Uganda Development Bank will facilitate renovation, upgrade and expansion works on qualifying accommodation facilities. The Ministry of Tourism, through the Uganda Tourism Board and the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, is rallying investors to take up these opportunities, which also come with tax incentives like VAT refunds on construction costs, and a 10-year income tax holiday for hotels established in rural areas.
AfCON LOC is now urging suppliers, service providers, and potential bidders to prepare for a series of tenders that it says will soon be launched in preparation for the TotalEnergies AfCON 2027, also dubbed “Pamoja 2027”. The areas include catering services, translation services, communication services, digital services, broadcasting facilities, and ticketing solutions, equipment and services. Others are hotels and accommodation; hospitality programme; transportation and logistics; event operations; IT and Technology solutions; branding, printing and signage; and concession management services.
Dennis K. Mugimba, Chairperson of the LOC Communications and Promotion Sub-Committee, says that for now, up to August 30, interested companies can express their interest and monitor the upcoming tender announcements. This is aimed at ensuring that Ugandans are enabled to “timely participate in this landmark continental event,” which offers opportunities worth billions of shillings. All tender documents, eligibility criteria, and submission procedures will be published on the official AfCON secretariat website.
The experience from Morocco
Morocco hosted the tournament in 2025 and is said to have benefited massively through direct economic revenue, accelerated infrastructure development, and a powerful boost to its tourism and employment sectors. The Moroccan government reportedly generated over 1.7 billion dollars (about 6.4 trillion shillings) in direct economic value from tourism, hospitality and retail, while fast-tracking strategic national developments.
The country reported a 14 percent increase in that year to more than 19 million tourists, while about 600,000 are said to have been traveling fans. In total, 1,116,959 live spectators bought tickets and entered the match venue. The tournament period also saw record occupancy for hotels and heavy demand for local transport services, according to different economic trackers, including the Ministry of Tourism.
It also reported that about 100,000 ordinary workers secured newly created positions across the hospitality, logistics, event management, and transport sectors, including in cafés, restaurants, bakeries, and pastry shops, which also recorded a boost in tips and wages due to a 25% surge in domestic demand. Travel by thousands of fans across the tournament cities also created massive opportunities for passenger transporters.
This is a picture of a single country hosting the tournament, while Uganda will share these opportunities with Kenya and Tanzania. For example, Morocco is said to have mobilized 2.3 billion euros (9.8 trillion shillings) in strategic investments to upgrade stadiums, roads, digital networks, and urban services, compared to 600 million dollars (2.26 trillion shillings) Uganda has sunk in so far.
About 3,000 Local Supply Companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), were integrated directly into the event’s logistics and supply chains, injecting immediate liquidity into local neighborhoods. In addition, thousands of artisans and craftsmen or traditional Moroccan craft sellers, carpet weavers, and potters utilized mobile stands and dedicated souvenir stores built directly around stadiums to tap into the tourism boom.
The Ugandan government has already officially enacted a visa fee waiver for all visiting fans arriving during the tournament period to optimize tourism numbers, expecting that the benefits from more visitors will be greater than the revenues from the visas-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
