The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has briefed President Yoweri Museveni on its preparedness to supply water to Hoima, Masindi, and Kabalega International Airport during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The briefing was conducted by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who leads the National AFCON Task Force, at State House, Entebbe, on September 22. Uganda will co-host the tournament with Kenya and Tanzania from June 16 to July 19, 2027.
According to Ms Nabbanja, water supply works for Hoima City Stadium are complete, while work to stabilise supply in Hoima City stands at 32 per cent. The stadium is supplied by two boreholes at Mparo and Kyarwiru, which yield 25 and 15 cubic metres an hour respectively. Both have been developed, connected to the stadium, and commissioned, giving the venue a supply line independent of the city network. The Hoima City works are designed to add 2,000 cubic metres of treated water a day to the city’s network.
The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment through NWSC, with the aim of providing dedicated supply to stadiums and hospitality venues and stabilising supply in host cities ahead of an expected increase in visitors. The project has moved from planning into major civil works, with excavation and concrete blinding for the treatment plant units complete, as well as surveys of the pipeline routes. The next steps include ordering pumps for the Kafu treatment plant and starting structural walling for the plant’s aerator, clarifier, and filter units.
NWSC’s original scope covered the stadium and Hoima City’s supply. However, the AFCON Secretariat later asked the utility to extend services to Kabalega International Airport and stabilise supply in Masindi Town. To supply the airport, NWSC proposes raising the capacity of the Kafu treatment plant from 2,000 to 3,000 cubic metres a day, laying a 36km bulk transfer main, and building a 200 cubic metre reservoir at the airport. The airport itself is still under construction, with the first phase 98 per cent complete.
In Masindi, the plan includes upgrading the Katam–Kyema pipelines, installing electromechanical pumping equipment, and extending supply to Masindi Stadium and a hotel designated for the tournament. The airport and Masindi works each stand at five per cent, with pipeline surveys completed and the works scoped. The total cost of the water interventions is UGX 22.15 billion, with UGX 6.25 billion secured and funding civil works under Component A.
A request for the remaining UGX 15.9 billion has been made to the AFCON Secretariat and the President, with the money needed for work on the airport extension to begin. The balance covers the airport pipeline and plant upgrade, the Masindi works, and Component B of the Hoima project. Ms Nabbanja said the works are on schedule for completion by February 2027, about four months before the tournament begins.
The briefing comes days after Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Dr Patrice Motsepe began an inspection tour of the three host countries. Speaking in Tanzania, he said the hosts had nine months left and needed to speed up. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation’s Managing Director, Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha, and other sector officials attended the meeting.
Key points
- The National Water and Sewerage Corporation has begun implementing a project to provide dedicated water supply to stadiums and hospitality venues in Hoima, Masindi, and Kabalega International Airport during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
- The project, valued at UGX 22.15 billion, aims to stabilise water supply in host cities ahead of an expected increase in visitors.
- The works are on schedule for completion by February 2027, about four months before the tournament begins.
