FUFA President Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim has described the hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a historic opportunity for Uganda to harness the power of sport to drive national development, promote tourism, attract investment and create a lasting legacy.
Speaking at the official launch of the Sports for National Development Consortium under the theme ‘Sports for Development: Positioning AFCON 2027 as a Catalyst for Uganda’s Economic Transformation and Lasting Legacy’, Hon. Magogo highlighted the ability of football to unite people and create opportunities beyond the pitch.
‘For us as footballers, for us as sportsmen, it is more than life. But for us to be able to use our sport to bring people together and start talking about national development using sport is a dream,’ he said.
Hon. Magogo reflected on his journey in football, tracing his involvement in the game back to 1991 when he started following Ugandan football before later becoming a player and administrator.
He noted that Uganda’s football journey has evolved significantly, with the country moving from the long pursuit of returning to the Africa Cup of Nations to now preparing to host the continent’s biggest football tournament.
‘When I became President of the Federation in 2013, the hope was if Uganda could ever qualify to go to the Africa Cup of Nations because there had been 39 years of trying and failing. Today, we have been to the Africa Cup of Nations. Now the news is when we don’t qualify,’ he said.
The FUFA President emphasised that qualifying for AFCON and hosting the competition are two different milestones, with the latter presenting a bigger opportunity for Uganda to showcase itself to the world.
‘It is one thing qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. It is a totally different thing to bring the Africa Cup of Nations to Uganda,’ he added.
Hon. Magogo noted that AFCON 2027 will provide a platform to project Uganda and East Africa globally, with the tournament expected to bring together some of the best footballers, supporters and stakeholders from across the world.
‘AFCON is watched in 165 different countries. Meaning that we have an opportunity to project our country to the world. It is an opportunity for business, policy makers, tourism and investment,’ he said.
Beyond football, the FUFA President highlighted the importance of using the tournament to tell Uganda’s story, pointing to the region’s natural and cultural heritage as a key part of the experience that will be presented to the world.
He described East Africa as a region with immense tourism potential and called for collective efforts to use AFCON 2027 as a platform to showcase its unique attractions.
Hon. Magogo also stressed the importance of measuring the impact of the tournament through data collection before, during and after the competition to demonstrate the value of sport to investors, government and other stakeholders.
‘Can we collect data before this competition, during this competition and after this competition? When we have data, then we can make our case to investors, government and everybody,’ he said.
He cited the success of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, as an example of the wider impact major football events can create, including increased international movement and economic activity.
The FUFA President commended the Government of Uganda for supporting the East African bid and providing the necessary backing to make the hosting of AFCON 2027 possible.
He also appreciated the contribution of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the AFCON 2027 Organising Committee, FUFA partners and all stakeholders involved in preparing Uganda for the continental showpiece.
‘We did not get this on a silver platter. It was a competition. But we needed support, and today we are here because of the cooperation and commitment of many stakeholders,’ Hon. Magogo said.
Uganda, alongside Kenya and Tanzania, will host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, marking the first time the tournament will be staged in East Africa.
Hon. Magogo expressed confidence in the preparations and called upon all Ugandans to contribute positively towards delivering a successful tournament.
‘We must speak as a country. We must be positive, and I believe we should organise one of the best competitions,’ he said.
The Sports for National Development Consortium brings together stakeholders committed to leveraging sport as a tool for economic transformation, social development and a lasting legacy from AFCON 2027.
