Written By | Peter Luzinda
The funding will be channelled through the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and domestic clubs to strengthen player development and national team readiness
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KAMPALA
Government has allocated UGX12.5 billion to support the national football team, the Uganda Cranes, and an additional UGX5.5 billion to Uganda Premier League clubs as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The funding will be channelled through the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and domestic clubs to strengthen player development and national team readiness.
The revelation was made by Bernard Ogwel, General Secretary of the National Council of Sports (NCS), while appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Education and Sports to present the 2026/27 Ministerial Policy Statement.
Boost for Uganda Cranes
Ogwel said the UGX12.5 billion allocation is intended to enhance the competitiveness of the Uganda Cranes ahead of AFCON 2027.
“In terms of our readiness to participate in the games, these funds—part of which will go to FUFA—are directed to the national team because we do not want to only provide infrastructure while the team itself is not supported,” Ogwel told the committee.
He added that the funding will address key priority areas identified by the Ministry of Education and Sports to improve team performance.
Ogwel
Funding for Clubs
For the first time, government will directly fund Uganda Premier League clubs, allocating UGX5.5 billion to support talent development at the grassroots and club level.
Officials argued that local clubs play a critical role in nurturing players who eventually represent the national team, making them central to Uganda’s AFCON ambitions.
Diaspora Training and Technology Investment
The National Council of Sports also disclosed that UGX122.8 billion has been allocated to the AFCON 2027 organising committee to support broader preparations for the tournament.
Out of this:
Strategic Shift in Sports Funding
NCS defended the decision to fund league clubs directly, noting that previous government support largely focused on infrastructure rather than talent development.
“This time, we are investing in the entire football ecosystem—from grassroots clubs to the national team—because these are the structures that produce players for Uganda,” officials said.
Uganda is co-hosting the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Tanzania, with government ramping up both infrastructure and team preparations to ensure competitiveness on home soil.
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