Uganda’s build-up to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations hit turbulence on Wednesday after a sharp disagreement over the tournament budget forced the Education and Sports Parliamentary Committee to suspend its sitting.
The trouble started when the Ministry of Education and Sports, through the National Council of Sports (NCS), presented its 2026/27 budget framework paper, outlining funding needs for AFCON 2027, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
Tensions rose after the presentation when committee chairperson Hon. James Kubeketelya invited FUFA president and Budiope East MP, Eng. Moses Magogo, to present FUFA’s executive summary on AFCON preparations, a move that appeared to catch ministry and NCS officials by surprise.
As Magogo began, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang objected, questioning how FUFA could present a document the ministry and NCS had not seen.
“With due respect to the FUFA president and the football family, I am shocked,” Ogwang said.
“FUFA operates under the National Council of Sports, yet neither the council nor the ministry has a copy of this document. I need to step back and consult senior ministry leadership.”
The disagreement quickly escalated. The chair ordered both Ogwang and Magogo to step out for ten minutes to reconcile, but the attempt failed.
Magogo maintained that FUFA had formally submitted its documents and accused authorities of sidelining the federation in AFCON planning.
“As far as I am concerned, a copy was delivered to the National Council of Sports,” he said.
“There have been presentations about AFCON with no consultation with the federation. Whatever is being presented has zero input from FUFA, yet football is at the centre of AFCON.”
He later walked out, leaving FUFA executives Deo Mutabazi, Ronnie Kalema and CEO Edgar Watson behind.
NCS General Secretary Dr. Bernard Ogwel disputed Magogo’s claim, telling MPs that no submission had been received from FUFA.
“We have not received any document from FUFA,” Ogwel said.
“The NCS budget process is communicated in good time, and that procedure has not changed.”
The standoff laid bare coordination gaps as Uganda prepares to host one of the biggest sporting events in its history.
Government is already seeking extra funding for the AFCON secretariat, following a Shs24 billion investment used to host last year’s CHAN tournament as part of the 2027 build-up.
With the sitting suspended and key players divided, questions remain over whether Uganda’s AFCON 2027 budget planning is aligned and whether the country can move forward with a united voice as the countdown continues.
