)
Neighbours Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in May this year launched a campaign to bring Africa’s biggest football extravaganza to the Eastern coast of Africa, in a bid named ‘Pamoja’.
There was no mention or early allocation for the joint East African bid to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations in the latest budget readings from all three nations involved.
Neighbours Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in May this year launched a campaign to bring Africa’s biggest football extravaganza to the Eastern coast of Africa, in a bid named ‘Pamoja’.
All three heads of state agreed unanimously to support their national football federations, pledging both financial and political support to make the dream a reality.
Even with the bid yet to be fully evaluated or the wish granted, CAF requirements demand that countries have to show their financial muscle to meet the requirements of hosting such a tournament.
And it was expected that the three governments would show the earliest indication of preparing their respective sub sectors to develop capacity well in time.
However, the latest budget readings did not make mention of anything involved with the Pamoja bid, with the sports budgets in all three countries either receiving cuts, or getting slight improvements.
Uganda’s Sports budget
The budget reading for Uganda delivered by Hon. Matia Kasaija at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala on Wednesday, bore some positive news for the overall economy.
Uganda’s economy is projected to grow at six percent in financial year 2023/2024, according to Kasaija, with the budget projections indicating an increase in the total budget to 52.74 trillion shillings [$13.9 billion].
Amid initial concerns of budget suppression back to UGX 17 billion, Parliament demonstrated its unwavering commitment to sports by maintaining the sports budget and even allocating additional funds.
The sports budget received a 2.5% increment, reaching slightly over 48.9 billion shillings for the upcoming financial year, with notably UGX 1.5 billion (USD 410278) specifically earmarked for infrastructure development.
However, none of that is expected to be utilized to develop infrastructure that could be used to push the AFCON bid.
The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) will receive the largest portion of the UGX 48.9 billion sports budget, amounting to UGX 17.1 billion (35%), which is to be utilized to run the national teams.
Kenya Sports fund slashed by 50%
The Kenya National Treasury passed a drastic reduction of over 50% in the budgetary allocation to the Sports, Culture, and Social Development Fund for the upcoming fiscal year 2023/24.
Kenya’s National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u unveiled a budget of Kshs 12.5 billion, a substantial reduction from the Kshs 15.8 billion from the previous financial year.
Out of this amount, Kshs 6.4 billion was allocated to the Sports, Culture, and Social Development Fund, while the Tourism and Tourism Promotion Fund will receive 4.1 billion shillings and 2.0 billion shillings, respectively.
Mueke, recently revealed that the Ministry of Sports had submitted a funding request of up to Kshs 66 billion shillings, a stark contrast to the available funds in the Fund, which is less than 10 billion shillings.
As a result, the ministry has emphasized the prioritization of events with potential economic value to the country and those where Kenya demonstrates prowess or holds the promise of becoming a powerhouse.
However, the budget estimates presented on Thursday did not mention any allocation for Kenya's bid to co-host the 2027 AFCON.
Tanzania sports budget falls short of Samia’s budget
Members of Parliament in Tanzania were less impressed by the budget allocation to the country’s sports sector, despite president Samia Suluhu Hassan’s wish to expand the sector’s funding according to the Citizen.
This is despite the fact that allotted budget not being suppressed from the one that was provided for the financial year 22/23.
Tanzania’s Minister for Sport and Culture, Dr Pindi Chana outlined some of the issues presented by the Sh35.445 billion requested for the fiscal year 2023/24 from the Sh35.425 billion allotted in 2022/23.
To rival East Africa’s push to bring the AFCON to the East coast of Africa, Algeria who are also bidding to host the 2025 AFCON.
Algeria is among the top football nations on the continent, and could be ready to host any event by the snap of a finger given the wealth of facilities.
The North African nation hosted the 2023 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) and currently has five venues in four cities accredited by CAF.
Another Nort African nation Egypt have also presented themselves in the running for hosting the tournament. Egypt, who hosted the tournament in 2019, currently has six stadiums in three cities accredited by CAF.
Senegal became the fifth candidate to submit a hosting bid for the AFCON when the West African nation officially submitted its bid on Monday.
Senegal, the current AFCON Champions from 2021, last hosted the tournament in 1992 and had been considering a bid for hosting 2025.
Botswana was counting on neighbours Namibia to submit a joint bid termed ‘BONA 2027’, but the latter pulled out due to financial constraints.
Botswana though remains committed to hosting the tournament, with the country’s Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, saying hosting the AFCON will be a significant catalyst for Botswana's development.
On August 15, the Executive Committee of CAF will reveal the successful applicants together with the hosts for the 2025 AFCON.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)