KAMPALA – Ugandan businesses have been urged to position themselves for lucrative procurement opportunities as preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 tournament gather momentum, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) expected to launch its first round of tournament tenders in early August.
The call was made on Wednesday by Dr Dennis K. Mugimba, Chairperson of the Communications and Promotion Sub Committee of the AFCON 2027 Local Organising Committee (LOC), who said the opening of CAF procurement presents a significant opportunity for Ugandan companies to participate in one of Africa’s biggest sporting events.
Speaking during a media briefing in Kampala, Mugimba said CAF will issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in the first week of August for companies interested in supplying goods and services required for the continental championship.
He urged businesses to closely monitor the official CAF and AFCON PAMOJA Uganda websites for procurement notices, stressing that the opportunities will not be limited to Uganda but will also extend to Kenya and Tanzania, the tournament’s co-hosts.
“Interested potential service providers and suppliers are encouraged to continuously check CAF’s official website as well as the website of the Local Organising Committee. It is the responsibility of businesses to apply for these opportunities,” Mugimba said.
He noted that securing contracts under the AFCON supply chain would not only generate income for local businesses but also provide valuable experience in delivering services for a major international sporting event.
Mugimba also revealed that the Uganda Local Organising Committee is in the final stages of prequalifying local suppliers who will provide goods and services for tournament activities taking place within Uganda.
The prequalification exercise, which opened earlier this month, is expected to close at the end of July, although the committee reserves the right to extend the registration period if necessary.
He explained that only companies that successfully complete the prequalification process will be eligible to participate in the Uganda LOC tenders expected to be issued between September and October this year.
The procurement opportunities will span several sectors, including hospitality, catering, transport and logistics, information and communications technology, media and communications, digital engagement, branding, medical services, safety and security, event management, consultancy, documentary production, fan park management, souvenir production and office supplies.
To qualify, businesses must be legally registered in Uganda, registered with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority, be tax compliant, demonstrate financial stability and have no record of litigation or non-performance.
Mugimba clarified that while the Uganda Local Organising Committee will handle procurement for services required within Uganda, some strategic services such as ticketing and television broadcasting will be centrally procured by CAF to serve all three host countries under the AFCON PAMOJA framework.
He added that procurement for infrastructure and other AFCON related projects being implemented by government ministries, departments and agencies will be conducted independently by the respective institutions in accordance with public procurement regulations.
Beyond procurement, the Local Organising Committee plans to intensify nationwide public awareness campaigns beginning in August through digital platforms, media partnerships and youth engagement initiatives aimed at building excitement ahead of the tournament.
“We shall be engaging the media and many young people to help us deliver a great experience through digital engagement and other productions to promote public awareness about AFCON 2027,” Mugimba said.
He added that government has already released the necessary resources to enable the Local Organising Committee to accelerate preparations for the championship.
The TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 tournament will be jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, marking the first time the East African region stages Africa’s premier football competition. The month-long tournament is scheduled to kick off on 19 June 2027, bringing together the continent’s top national teams and expected to attract thousands of visitors, creating significant business and investment opportunities across the three host nations.
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