Uganda hotel capacity for Afcon 2027 faces critical challenges as the country prepares to co-host the continental football event with Kenya and Tanzania. The Uganda Hotel Owners Association (UHOA) reports that Uganda needs over 10,000 additional rooms to accommodate expected guests.
According to UHOA, only Kampala currently provides sufficient VVIP accommodation, offering just over 600 rooms suitable for CAF officials attending the Africa Nations Championship (Chan).
“We’ve verified that Kampala hotels can host the 600 VVIP officials expected for Chan,” said Jean Byamugisha, CEO of UHOA. “However, in Hoima, the situation is different. We urgently need over 10,000 more rooms there.”
UHOA has partnered with Hoima Local Government and local hoteliers to expand hotel facilities. They have also engaged the Office of the Prime Minister, seeking tax incentives to encourage rapid construction and renovations before 2027.
Speaking ahead of the 2025 Hospitality Expo, UHOA President Susan Muhwezi emphasized the rising cost of hotel construction. She urged the government to exempt hotel materials from VAT to make expansion feasible. “Even before the pandemic, prices were high,” she said. “COVID-19 only made it worse. Taxes on building materials further complicate our recovery.”
Infrastructure in remote areas remains a concern. Ms Muhwezi noted that many tourism hubs lack electricity and proper road access. “We applaud government efforts, but they must complete tourism roads and extend electricity to every hosting district.”
Beyond infrastructure, Uganda also faces a hospitality skills gap. “Our people are friendly and welcoming, but that’s not enough,” Ms Muhwezi explained. “We need trained professionals—from airport drivers to hotel receptionists and chefs.”
To bridge the skills gap, UHOA is partnering with Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to create exchange programs. These will send hotel workers to Germany, Switzerland, and Kenya for advanced training.
A 2024 report by Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) revealed Uganda’s limited five-star capacity. Only Speke Resort and Conference Centre met the five-star criteria. Eight hotels earned four stars, 11 received three stars, and 30 had two-star ratings. Surprisingly, renowned hotels like Sheraton Kampala, Fairway, and Serena Kampala were missing from the list.
If Uganda hopes to meet CAF standards, it must act now. Building capacity, training personnel, and improving infrastructure will be crucial in ensuring Uganda hotel capacity for Afcon 2027 meets expectations.
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