Hotel owners in the Bunyoro sub-region are still waiting for the Shs102 billion in government funding promised to help upgrade their facilities ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The funding was announced earlier this year as part of government efforts to improve accommodation facilities in Bunyoro, particularly Hoima, which is expected to host AFCON matches at the newly constructed Hoima City Stadium.
However, Dr Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa, the chairperson of the Bunyoro Hotel Owners Association (BHOA), says the money has not yet been released, forcing several hotel owners to use their own resources to continue with upgrade and construction works. Kaliisa said the hoteliers cannot afford to wait because they have a tight deadline to complete the works, test the facilities, and have them ready to accommodate visitors expected for the continental tournament.
“We are progressing with the hotel construction works using our own resources. However, we are engaging the relevant government authorities to ensure that the funds promised to us by the government to upgrade our hotels are availed in time,” Kaliisa said. The hotel owners had initially asked the government for Shs130 billion in October 2025 to upgrade their facilities and prepare the region’s hospitality industry for AFCON.
The government subsequently announced a Shs102 billion financing package, structured primarily as a concessionary loan facility at an interest rate of five percent through the Uganda Development Bank (UDB). Under the proposed arrangement, Shs52 billion is earmarked for construction of a new 100-bed five-star hotel near Kabalega International Airport and Hoima City Stadium.
Another Shs30 billion is intended to upgrade existing hotels under BHOA, including improvements to rooms, gyms and conference facilities, while Shs20 billion is set aside for other qualifying hospitality and leisure facilities across the sub-region. Hotels listed among those expected to benefit include Miika Eco Resort Hotel, Hoima Resort Hotel, Edmara Hotel, Presidential Hotel, Urban Hotel, Kabalega Resort Hotel Hoima and Kabalega Resort Hotel Masindi.
Kaliisa said some hotel owners have already started upgrading their facilities because the work involves both construction and commercial operations, requiring completion several months before AFCON. He said the target is to have the major works completed by the end of March 2027, with testing expected to begin in April and the facilities ready for occupancy between May and June.
“We have decided to put our own resources so that we do not delay the upgrade work,” he said. According to Kaliisa, the region currently has hotels with between 160 and 200 rooms, but the available accommodation needs to be expanded to at least 900 rooms to meet the expected demand during AFCON.
He said the expansion also needs to cover modern amenities, including well-equipped gyms, standard conference facilities and other services required to meet international hospitality standards. Kaliisa said BHOA is engaging government stakeholders, including officials from UDB, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, to ensure the promised financing is released in time.
He added that UDB officials visited the sub-region about three weeks ago to conduct what he described as the final appraisal of hotels expected to benefit from the financing. Bunyoro has experienced a growth in hotel facilities in recent years, particularly in Hoima, driven largely by investments in the oil and gas sector. However, hotel owners say many of the facilities still require significant investment to meet the standards expected of hotels hosting international visitors.
Kaliisa said the investment would remain useful beyond AFCON because the upgraded facilities would support the region’s growing tourism industry. Bunyoro is home to attractions including Murchison Falls National Park, Kaiso-Tonya Game Reserve, Kibiro Hot Springs and Bugoma Central Forest Reserve. The hospitality upgrades are part of wider preparations for AFCON 2027, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
In Hoima, the government has constructed the 20,000-seater Hoima City Stadium in Kyarwiru Cell, Hoima East Division, which is among the venues selected to host matches during the tournament. The multi-purpose facility was constructed by SUMMA on 34 acres of land at a reported cost of US$129 million, financed through Uganda’s Petroleum Fund.
The stadium has facilities including VVIP sections, modern changing rooms and gyms, an indoor arena, a swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, media conference halls, a hybrid turf, a VAR room, FIFA and CAF offices, referee rooms, training grounds, media facilities and parking space for nearly 1,000 vehicles. The facility is expected to attract players, officials, media personnel and fans to the region during the tournament, increasing pressure on Bunyoro’s hospitality sector to have adequate accommodation and related services in place-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
