By Nsereko Hamza Kawuma
Uganda’s hotel and hospitality industry has been urged to enhance its preparedness and position itself to tap into the opportunities expected from the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Pamoja 2027.
The call was made during an engagement between the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC), through its Events Operations Sub-Committee, and hotel owners in the hospitality sector held at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
The meeting attracted more than 200 participants from Uganda’s hotel and hospitality industry. It focused on creating awareness about the opportunities associated with hosting Africa’s premier football tournament, while encouraging service providers to enhance their standards and prepare to meet the expectations of international visitors.
The Chairperson of the Events Operations Sub-Committee, Ronnie Kalema, said the successful hosting of AFCON Pamoja 2027 would depend on the collective preparedness of key sectors, including hospitality.
Kalema noted that Uganda’s bid to co-host the tournament was premised on the country’s commitment to provide the facilities and infrastructure required to host an event of AFCON’s magnitude.
“When we asked CAF to bring Africa to East Africa, they asked whether we are ready, and we responded that government is willing to provide the necessary facilities,” Kalema said.
The engagement also highlighted the importance of improving service delivery, professionalism, customer care and the overall guest experience as Uganda prepares to welcome visitors from across Africa and beyond.
The Chairperson of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, Mrs Suzan Muhwezi, welcomed the initiative, saying early engagement with the hospitality sector would enable businesses and workers to prepare for the tournament adequately.
“I appreciate the LOC for making time to involve the hoteliers as we prepare for AFCON 2027. We are trying to train all those in the hospitality industry to ensure that they provide the best services during AFCON,” Muhwezi said.
She underscored the importance of building the capacity of hospitality workers to effectively serve the anticipated increase in international guests and football-related delegations.
Representing the AFCON Secretariat Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hantali Decolas Kiiza, the Operations Manager commended the hotel owners and hospitality stakeholders for their strong turnout and participation.
Mr. Hantali expressed confidence that the engagement would strengthen collaboration between the LOC and the hospitality industry as preparations for AFCON Pamoja 2027 gather pace.
He noted that the hospitality sector will play a critical role in ensuring that Uganda delivers a successful tournament, adding that the tournament also presents significant opportunities for Uganda’s hospitality industry, with the country expected to receive national teams, match officials, CAF delegations, supporters, media personnel and other international visitors.
Part of the engagement highlighted the need for all hotels and other businesses to get registered for prequalification in the Tournament Management System (TOMAS).
While giving a presentation, Noah Omuya, the Media Attache at the Afcon Secretariat informed hoteliers that, all those interested to do business during the tournament ought to submit their details through the official registration for prequalification link: https://afconpamoja.ug/tomas/suppliers/register.
He also noted that the submission of documents is entirely virtual and the required documents include a Certificate of Incorporation, Tax Registration Certificate, Tax Clearance Certificate, a PPDA Certificate and any other necessary documents.
The engagement forms part of the LOC’s broader stakeholder engagement efforts aimed at bringing key sectors on board in preparation for AFCON Pamoja 2027 and ensuring that Ugandans are well positioned to benefit from the economic and business opportunities associated with the tournament.
As Uganda prepares to co-host the continental showpiece alongside Kenya and Tanzania, the LOC continues to engage stakeholders across different sectors to strengthen preparedness and promote a coordinated national approach towards the successful delivery of AFCON Pamoja 2027.
Pictorial from the Engagement:
Photos by: Joseph Nkoola, for LOC Uganda
