Namwamba meets Uganda ambassador for progress talks on  joint East Africa AFCON bid

AFCON 2027: Namwamba meets Uganda ambassador for progress talks on joint East Africa AFCON bid

Mark Kinyanjui 15:00 - 15.06.2023

CAF received a joint bid for the 2027 AFCON.

Minister for Sports, Youth and the Arts Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba met the Kenyan Ambassador to Uganda H.E Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) George Owino who briefed him on the progress of the East Africa Pamoja bid where Kenya, alongside Tanzania and Uganda is seeking to jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

In May, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) finally received the joint bid from the East African region to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The bid received full backing from all three nations’ heads of state, with Uganda president Yoweri Museveni excited about the region's interest in co-hosting the continental showcase for the first time in history in light of the financial windfall that will come with achieving the feat.

"I have received Uganda’s AFCON 2027 joint bid with Kenya and Tanzania (EAC Pamoja bid). Sports is good for health, entertainment and now, more so business," Museveni said.

"Therefore, for East Africa to come together to invite the African Cup of Nations here is very good. It will promote our countries and tourism will also increase," he added.

During Kenya’s launch held at State House Nairobi, president William Ruto confirmed he had given the CS his full blessing to oversee the process.

“The work of prosecuting our joint bid now begins in earnest and Kenya intends to make its full contribution to it. Namwamba is duly seized of this assignment and is mobilizing his team, liaising with his counterparts in Uganda and Tanzania to formulate a winning bid so that the people of our countries can look forward to participating in a successful 2027 tournament,” Ruto said.

“We hope that our joint bid will motivate all our sides not only to qualify for the 2027 tournament, but also excel beyond previous achievements,” added Ruto.

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has welcomed a joint bid to host the 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside East African neighbours, Kenya and Uganda.

“Hosting the tournament will boost sports sector in the region, especially football,” Suluhu said in a statement on Wednesday.

At the same time, the Head of State said a successful AFCON bid will boost East Africa’s tourism.

“More than one billion people in Africa and other parts of the world watch AFCON, and therefore it presents an opportunity for us to grow our respective tourism sectors,” she said.

Namwamba said 4 billion was to be set aside by each nation in order to help prepare for the tournament.

“We have already divided the total amount. Everyone contributes Ksh 4 billion (USD30 million),” Namwamba told Citizen TV.

“The money needs to be paid if the bid is accepted but we are ready,” Namwamba added.

Moreover, he stated that hosting the tourney was not an off-the-cuff plan but was part and parcel of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto, colloquially known as the Plan.

Additionally, he stated that only two stadiums will be used if the bid is successful – Nyayo Stadium and Kasarani Stadium, both in Nairobi.