Kadaga Leads EALA Oversight Mission as Arusha Stadium Edges Toward AFCON 2027 Handover

Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for East African Community Affairs, and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, has led an East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) oversight visit to Arusha to assess Tanzania’s readiness for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The high-level mission, organised by the Office of the EALA Speaker during the Assembly’s ongoing session in Arusha, brought regional lawmakers face-to-face with the progress of one of the tournament’s flagship venues—the new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium.

During the visit, the delegation met Tanzanian government officials and contractors and received detailed updates on construction timelines, quality standards, and remaining works. Kadaga, posting from the site, described the moments as “exciting” as the facility nears completion, with handover now targeted for December 2026. The 30,000-seat stadium, purpose-built at a cost of approximately $112 million and designed with a distinctive Tanzanite-inspired canopy, is expected to host group-stage matches when AFCON 2027 kicks off under the “Pamoja” banner from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

Speaking after the briefings, Kadaga underscored the critical importance of regional coordination, accountability, and timely infrastructure delivery. She stressed that the success of the historic tri-nation bid—jointly hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania—depends on every partner meeting CAF standards and delivering facilities on schedule. The Arusha visit forms part of broader EAC efforts to ensure that the first Africa Cup of Nations staged by three countries proceeds smoothly and showcases East African unity, organisational capacity, and hospitality.

The stadium’s advanced stage of completion is particularly significant given the tight timeline. With less than nine months remaining before kick-off, Tanzania’s Local Organising Committee has indicated that national venues are averaging above 80 percent completion. Complementary infrastructure, including access roads around the Arusha facility, is also advancing. The oversight mission allows EALA Members to exercise their scrutiny role, reinforcing transparency and providing a platform for lawmakers from all partner states to track delivery against the shared Pamoja roadmap.

Kadaga remains in Tanzania on a seven-day working visit. Beyond the stadium inspection, she continues to participate in a series of scheduled EAC engagements, including interactions linked to the Assembly’s plenary and committee work. These activities are proceeding according to programme, reflecting the dense calendar of regional business currently centred in Arusha.

The visit comes amid sustained high-level attention on AFCON 2027 preparations. CAF President Patrice Motsepe has repeatedly affirmed that the tournament will go ahead in the three East African host nations, dismissing speculation about alternative venues.

Regional mechanisms such as the PAMOJA Oversight Committee continue to coordinate stadium readiness, cross-border mobility, security, and operational planning. For Kadaga and the EALA delegation, the Arusha inspection serves as both a practical check on progress and a public demonstration of East Africa’s collective commitment to delivering a successful continental showcase.

With the stadium on course for December handover and regional political and legislative leadership actively engaged, the Pamoja partners are entering the final, decisive phase of tournament readiness.

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