National • 21 July 2026

Museveni: ‘Thieves’ Tried to Double Cost of AFCON Roads

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Last year, Sports Minister Peter Ogwang told Parliament that of the Shs905 billion allocated for AFCON preparations, Shs213 billion had been committed to upgrading at least 47.53 kilometres of roads around Hoima City Stadium and Mandela National Stadium

KAMPALA — President Museveni has revealed that his government blocked what he described as attempts by “thieves” to more than double the cost of roads being built for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying the alleged inflation formed part of wider corruption investigations in the Ministry of Works and Transport.

In a letter ordering the dismissal of six senior engineers and officials from the Ministry of Works and the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA), Museveni cited the AFCON road projects as one of several examples of alleged corruption in the infrastructure sector.

“I have been getting reports that there is massive Corruption in the Ministry of Works,” Museveni wrote.

As evidence, the President pointed to delays on several road projects and what he said was an attempt to dramatically increase the unit cost of roads being constructed for the continental football tournament.

“There are abundant examples everywhere such as the Busega-Mpigi road… the attempts by the thieves to hike the cost of the AFCON roads from Shs4 billion per km to Shs8.5 billion per km, etc etc,” Museveni wrote.

The President did not identify the officials behind the alleged attempt or explain how the increase was proposed. However, the allegation comes amid ongoing investigations into procurement, contract management and project implementation within the Ministry of Works.

Museveni’s letter

Uganda won the bid to co-host the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania, with the competition scheduled for June and July 2027.

The country expects to host matches at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala and the under-construction Hoima City Stadium in western Uganda.

To prepare for the tournament, the government has committed significant resources to sports infrastructure and supporting road networks.

The works include the reconstruction of Kinawataka Road, construction of pedestrian walkways and installation of street lighting aimed at improving accessibility, safety and security for players, officials and spectators.

Among those dismissed by Museveni is Eng. Rogers Kisambira, the project manager overseeing several AFCON road infrastructure projects in Kampala and Hoima.

The President’s letter also referenced investigations into the Busega–Mpigi Expressway, the Mubende–Fort Portal road, the Masaka–Mutukula highway, the Jinja road, the unfinished Ssezibwa Bridge and malfunctioning scanners at Entebbe International Airport.

He added that investigators were pursuing both criminal and administrative action.

“Of additional interest, the investigators have got two weapons: The Criminal and the Administrative.”

The allegations surfaced as State Minister for Works Fred Byamukama told Parliament on Monday that Museveni had dismissed six senior engineers over alleged irregularities affecting major infrastructure projects.

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