Uganda AFCON rail funding gap exposes tournament delivery risk
Uganda’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations are exposing the gap between approved infrastructure budgets and deployable funding, with rail authorities warning that transport capacity serving a key stadium remains underfunded.
Uganda’s railway operator has warned that funding intended to support transport infrastructure for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations has not yet translated into sufficient available cash, creating a delivery risk ahead of a major tournament-readiness assessment.Around Shs23.3bn has been allocated for upgrades to Kampala’s Central Terminal, the Kampala-Mukono line, Namanve Station and a planned halt serving Mandela National Stadium at Namboole.Uganda Railways Corporation managing director Benon Kajuna said: “They have approved Shs23 billion for works and also rehabilitation of the coaches, but then they are saying the money is not there.”The distinction between budget approval and actual funding is significant because CAF has identified August as a key milestone in preparations by co-hosts Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, covering transport, airports, accommodation, security and tournament operations.Uganda’s rail constraints extend beyond infrastructure. URC currently operates only five passenger coaches and is seeking a provider for another 20, with the additional rolling stock estimated to cost around Shs82bn.He also told lawmakers that the corporation has only four mainline locomotives against what he described as a minimum requirement of around 15.The railway programme is intended to provide an alternative to road transport on the congested Kampala-Jinja corridor and improve access to Mandela National Stadium during the tournament.Uganda has committed substantially larger sums to its overall AFCON programme. Government told parliament in April that Shs905bn had been provided for preparations in the 2026-27 budget, including road works, airport infrastructure and further improvements at Namboole.The challenge is converting those headline commitments into completed infrastructure before fixed tournament deadlines.CAF acting general secretary Samson Adamu said: “AFCON is a completely different tournament with different expectations,” citing the greater requirements created by teams, supporters, media and tournament operations.The issue carries a wider lesson for governments, suppliers and advisers involved in major-event infrastructure. Approved expenditure can provide confidence at the planning stage, but projects remain exposed until funds are released, procurement is completed and construction or rehabilitation is delivered.Transport performance also has direct commercial consequences for a host tournament, affecting spectator movement, hospitality, venue access and the economic benefits governments expect from hosting major events.Uganda’s immediate test is whether the rail funding and rolling-stock requirements can be resolved quickly enough to keep the Namboole transport programme aligned with CAF’s delivery timetable.