The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Central Government has demanded an update on infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after the ministry reported that the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, is only 49 percent complete.
The committee, chaired by Patrick Oshabe Nsamba, sought details on the progress of the projects from officials of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs led by Accounting Officer Edith Buturo, appearing before Parliament to respond to audit queries and account for the ministry’s activities.
Col. James Lwegaba, the Head of Joint Staff Engineering, told the committee that work on the AFCON infrastructure was progressing, but put the level of completion at Namboole at 49 percent.
The disclosure comes less than four months before the government’s December 31, 2026, deadline for completing key AFCON infrastructure.
Government told Parliament in April that Uganda will host AFCON matches at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, and Hoima City Stadium, with the two competition venues and eight training facilities required to be ready ahead of the tournament.
The government has committed substantial public resources to the preparations. Parliament was told that Cabinet had approved Shs1.35 trillion in 2024 for infrastructure, logistical and operational preparations for AFCON 2027 and the African Nations Championship (CHAN), followed by another Shs905 billion for critical inter-sectoral AFCON requirements.
For Namboole alone, Shs56.2 billion was allocated in the 2026/27 financial year for remodelling and upgrading the stadium. The Ministry of Education and Sports and MODVA signed a memorandum of understanding on February 26, 2026, for the design-and-build works under Phase II of the stadium expansion.
The project is intended to increase the stadium’s seating capacity from 38,268 to 45,000 and upgrade the VVIP and VIP lounges, media tribune, media centre, press-conference rooms, mixed zone, spectator areas and medical facilities.
Parliament was told in April that the contractor was reviewing the designs to incorporate observations from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while structural-integrity tests were also being conducted. The Namboole works form part of a wider programme of AFCON training infrastructure.
Parliament reported that construction was ongoing at the Kyambogo University and Makerere University training facilities, while designs for Hoima Boma Grounds and Masindi Municipal Training Facility had been completed. The Sir Tito Winyi Secondary School training facility was still awaiting completion of land acquisition at the time of the April update.
The December deadline has since been repeatedly emphasised by government as preparations for the continental tournament accelerate.
On September 2, Dr Dennis K. Mugimba, chairperson of the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee, said major progress was being made at Mandela National Stadium and expressed confidence that the facility would be ready by December 31, 2026.
The assurance contrasts with the latest update presented to PAC, which puts the stadium at 49 percent completion. The committee’s inquiry also comes against earlier parliamentary concerns about the capacity and oversight of the UPDF Engineering Brigade, which has been entrusted with several government infrastructure projects.
In February 2025, MPs questioned the Brigade’s ability to handle multiple infrastructure projects across the country, raising concerns over project timelines, budget allocation, stakeholder coordination and supervision. The UPDF has defended the Engineering Brigade’s capacity and documented its involvement in the renovation of Namboole and construction projects in the health and education sectors-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
