Bunyoro hotels seek shs130b to upgrade ahead of 2027 AFCON

Hotel owners in the Bunyoro sub-region are seeking Shs130 billion in government support to upgrade their facilities ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.

Under their umbrella body, the Bunyoro Hotel Owners Association (BHOA), the proprietors say that while the region has made significant investments in hospitality infrastructure, many hotels still fall short of international standards required to accommodate the surge of visitors expected during the continental football tournament.

According to Dr. Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa, Chairperson of BHOA and Senior Presidential Advisor on Oil and Gas, the association has submitted a Shs130 billion proposal to the government through the Office of the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja.

The funds, he explained, would be advanced to hotel owners as low-interest loans to expand capacity, modernize facilities, and improve service standards before the tournament.

“We would like the government to support us through a loan scheme that hotel owners can repay after the AFCON tournament,” Dr. Kaliisa said. “While some hotels currently have between 160 and 200 rooms, we need to increase capacity to at least 900 rooms to meet accommodation needs.”

He noted that beyond increasing bed capacity, hotels also need to add modern amenities such as fully equipped gyms, standard conference halls, reliable internet, and upgraded sanitation facilities to meet international expectations.

Dr. Kaliisa emphasized that the proposed investment would not only prepare the region for AFCON but also strengthen Bunyoro’s tourism and business ecosystem in the long term.

“These facilities will continue to serve tourists visiting attractions like Murchison Falls National Park, Kaiso-Tonya Game Reserve, Kibiro Hot Springs, and Bugoma Central Forest Reserve, long after the tournament,” he said.

He also urged hotel proprietors not to rely solely on government support, encouraging them to seek private financing and partnerships to accelerate the upgrade process.

During an inspection of the Hoima City Stadium, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang echoed the call for hotel owners to invest in quality accommodation, noting that the AFCON event will draw both local and international guests — including investors linked to the oil and gas sector.

“The Bunyoro sub-region and the entire western corridor must prepare early. Improved hotels will not only host AFCON visitors but also attract long-term business and tourism, helping proprietors generate more income,” Ogwang said.

The government is currently constructing the Hoima City Stadium, one of Uganda’s main AFCON venues. The US$129 million (approx. Shs490 billion), 20,000-seater multi-purpose stadium, being built by Turkish firm M/S SUMMA, sits on a 34-acre site and is expected to become a major sports and tourism landmark for the region.

Analysts say the AFCON preparations could serve as a catalyst for economic growth in western Uganda, boosting local employment, hospitality, transport, and construction sectors.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, the Bunyoro region already contributes a growing share of Uganda’s domestic tourism revenue, but limited hotel capacity and infrastructure gaps have slowed its potential.

If the proposed Shs130 billion support is approved, it could help position Bunyoro as one of Uganda’s new hospitality investment frontiers, riding on the twin momentum of AFCON 2027 and the oil and gas sector.