By Diana N. Kintu
Dr. Dennis Mugimba, encouraged qualified businesses to take advantage of the opportunity by registering for pre-qualification ahead of the procurement process.
From transport operators and caterers to media companies, ICT firms and event managers, Ugandan businesses now have an opportunity to position themselves for contracts linked to the Total Energies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 after the Local Organising Committee (LOC) launched a nationwide supplier prequalification exercise.
The initiative marks one of the first major procurement steps toward Africa’s biggest football tournament and is expected to create business opportunities across multiple sectors as Uganda prepares to co-host AFCON PAMOJA 2027 alongside Kenya and Tanzania.
While addressing journalists on Wednesday, the Chairperson of the LOC Communications and Promotion Sub-Committee, Dr. Dennis Mugimba, encouraged qualified businesses to take advantage of the opportunity by registering for pre-qualification ahead of the procurement process.
“We invite all qualified, experienced and reputable suppliers to register their interest through the prequalification process. Registration is entirely free of charge, and only suppliers who are successfully prequalified will be invited to submit proposals once the tenders are launched,” Dr. Mugimba said.
According to the LOC, the exercise is intended to build a database of competent suppliers who will provide goods and services during preparations for the continental tournament.
Formal procurement is expected to commence between September and October this year, while some CAF-managed tenders will begin as early as August. Businesses have been advised to monitor both the CAF and Uganda LOC websites for updates.
The opportunities span a wide range of sectors including hospitality, catering, transport and logistics, information and communication technology, media and communications, branding, digital production, medical services, security, consultancy, documentary production, fan park management, office supplies and souvenir production, among others.
To qualify, businesses must be legally registered in Uganda, registered with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), financially sound, tax compliant and free from records of litigation or non-performance.
Dr. Mugimba emphasised that the exercise is free of charge and forms part of the Local Organising Committee’s commitment to conducting a transparent and competitive procurement process that complies with CAF procurement standards and Uganda’s obligations under the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 Host Agreement.
He further clarified that some specialised services, including ticketing and television broadcasting, will be procured directly by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) through a single supplier serving all three host countries.
Likewise, procurement for AFCON-related activities undertaken by individual government Ministries, Departments and Agencies will be managed independently by those respective institutions.
For many Ugandan businesses, the pre-qualification exercise represents more than an administrative process.
It offers an early opportunity to compete for contracts associated with one of Africa’s largest sporting events, allowing local businesses to contribute to the successful hosting of AFCON PAMOJA 2027 while benefiting from the economic activity the tournament is expected to generate.