The President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), Moses Hassim Magogo, has issued a powerful call to East African nations to fully embrace the rare and historic opportunity of co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The President delivered these remarks during the opening of the “PAMOJA” (Unity) workshop at the Mestil Hotel in Kampala, a high-level planning session dedicated to the tournament’s preparation.
In his address, President Magogo emphasized that the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to award hosting rights to Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania is a monumental victory for the region. He noted that while major continental tournaments have traditionally been concentrated in West, South, and North Africa, the time has finally come for East Africa to write its own chapter in football history.
Magogo expressed profound gratitude to the governments of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania for their unwavering commitment to the joint “PAMOJA” bid. He highlighted that the project gained momentum only because the three heads of state recognized the vision and provided the necessary political and financial backing to secure the hosting rights for the first time in the region’s history.
“We approached our governments with the proposal to bid for AFCON, and the three Presidents bought into the project immediately,” Magogo told the delegates. “Now that the rights are in our hands, the remaining task is to work tirelessly to deliver a world-class event that will astonish the world.”
Despite acknowledging that the region currently lacks extensive experience in organizing tournaments of this magnitude, Magogo voiced absolute confidence in the capabilities of East Africans. He stressed that the focus must now be on capacity building, asserting that any gaps in experience would be bridged by learning directly from CAF’s experts and adopting international best practices. He vowed that the objective is to make East Africa “the best host Africa has ever had.”
Beyond the pitch, Magogo framed AFCON 2027 as a transformative tool for the East African Community (EAC). He explained that football serves as a unique bridge to bring people together, stimulate the tourism sector, and provide a significant boost to the regional economy through infrastructure development and international exposure.
The FUFA President further declared that the landscape of football in East Africa will be fundamentally altered after 2027. The construction of new stadiums and the upgrading of transport and hospitality infrastructure will provide a lasting legacy that will benefit domestic leagues and youth development for decades to come.
Magogo thanked CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe for his inclusive vision of rotating hosting opportunities across all African regions. He concluded by urging all stakeholders to remain focused and diligent, ensuring that this golden opportunity translates into a source of pride for all East Africans. The workshop, attended by sports leaders and technical experts from the three host nations, will continue throughout the week focusing on stadium logistics, security, and tournament management.
