Ministry of Education and Sports Spokesperson, Dr. Denis Mugimba addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre
The Government of the Republic of Uganda has committed significant funding to promote the country’s image as it prepares to co-host the Total Energies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.While addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the Ministry of Education and Sports Spokesperson, Dr. Denis Mugimba, revealed that Government has prioritized financing key areas aligned to the successful hosting of the tournament in the next financial year.
Dr. Mugimba noted that this funding follows a consultative process involving various sectors, with final approval granted by Cabinet upon submission by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports.
He emphasised that hosting a tournament of AFCON’s scale requires coordinated effort across multiple sectors.
“Co-hosting a continental sports event of this magnitude is a complex operation that cannot be undertaken by a single sector or institution alone. It requires a whole-of-government and multi-stakeholder approach,” he stated.
As part of these efforts, Government has allocated UGX 37.85 billion specifically for marketing and promoting “Destination Uganda,” leveraging the AFCON 2027 platform to showcase the country to the world.
This campaign aims to position Uganda as a leading tourism destination in East Africa. Known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda offers unique attractions including mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, diverse wildlife experiences across ten national parks such as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, and adventure tourism along the River Nile.
The planned investments reflect Government’s commitment to not only deliver a successful tournament but also to strengthen Uganda’s global visibility, tourism potential, and long-term economic growth.
