KAMPALA, UGANDA: February 02, 2026— The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) has moved to clear the air regarding its recent appearance before Parliament, clarifying that it does not hold the purse strings for the upcoming AFCON 2027 tournament.
In a detailed statement following a petition to the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports on January 27, 2026, the federation emphasized that the Local Organising Committee (LOC)—not FUFA—is the sole custodian of the AFCON budget from the planning phase through to execution.
Focus on Performance, Not Procurement
The clarification comes amid public discussion over the financial requirements for the continental showpiece, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania. FUFA noted that the document it presented to the committee contained no provisions for the logistical organization of the event itself.
Instead, the federation’s submission focused entirely on a directive from H.E. President Yoweri Museveni. The President had previously expressed concern over the national team’s competitiveness and tasked FUFA with designing a roadmap for Uganda to not just participate, but to “compete and win at the highest level.”
A Two-Pronged Strategy for Success
To bridge the gap between Uganda and Africa’s “elite footballing nations,” FUFA outlined a strategic policy focusing on both immediate results and long-term sustainability.
Short-Term Strategy: To ensure a formidable squad for AFCON 2027, FUFA plans to aggressively naturalize eligible players of Ugandan descent currently playing abroad. The goal is to immediately boost the “Cranes” competitiveness before the tournament kicks off on home soil.
Long-Term Strategy: The federation proposed a “Hybrid Model” of development, borrowing successful elements from other African powerhouses:
The Senegal/Ghana Model: Focusing on nationwide talent identification, elite development, and early export of players to European leagues.
The Egypt/South Africa/Tanzania Model: Investing in and strengthening domestic professional leagues to create a high-quality local environment.
”FUFA was tasked with proposing what is required for Uganda to compete and win at the highest level,” the statement read, adding that the proposed strategic policy is aimed at improving the performance of both National Teams and Clubs in the short and long term.
Coordination Gaps
The statement follows a week of reported “turbulence” at Parliament, where a sharp disagreement over the 2026/27 budget framework led to the temporary suspension of committee sittings. While the Ministry of Education and Sports handles the broader infrastructure and hosting budget via the National Council of Sports, FUFA insists that its technical input is the “center” of the AFCON mission.
As the countdown to 2027 continues, the federation remains firm: their job is to build a winning team, while the LOC manages the tournament’s billions.
