The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Pamoja qualifiers begin in September with co-hosts Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda part of the process despite being already qualified.

Like the norm has been, even host nations participate in the qualifiers despite having already secured automatic qualification for the tournament by virtue of being co-hosts.

Kenya is drawn in Group D alongside 1996 winners South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea, Uganda are in Group H with 2004 champions Tunisia, Libya and Botswana while Tanzania are placed in Group L alongside Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

As a result, all nations in groups that have co-hosts are effectively competing for one qualifying spot from those respective groups.

Guinea head coach Paulo Duarte has already expressed frustration about the issues referring to it as unfair for teams drawn in the same qualifying groups as the co-host nations and that CAF should consider revising the system.

Could Duarte and his allies be right?

The well-travelled Duarte has a point especially when it comes to Pamoja 2027 since all co-hosts are nations that are not regularly present at the continent global showpiece.

Besides, the fact that a host nation is already qualified regardless of which position they earn in the qualifiers also leaves a lot of question marks and will hurt in case one, or all of them finish in positions below second.

In comparison to groups that don’t have co-hosts, this sounds unfair as the positions to compete for are two – very fair.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Dates

Matchdays 1 & 2: September 21 to October 6, 2026

Matchdays 3 & 4: November 9 to 17, 2026

Matchdays 5 & 6: March 22 to 30, 2026

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• Event: AFCON PAMOJA 2027
• Duration: 19th June to 18th June 2027
• Joint Hosts: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

In a bid to encourage multitudes of people to visit Uganda during the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Government of Uganda has announced VISA waivers for all the intending people planning to visit the country prior to, during and after the championship.

A three-month grace period has been announced, a month before the event kicks off, during and one month after the tournament has kicked off on 19th June 2027.

This was officially announced by Dr Dennis K. Mugimba, the chairperson of the communications and signage sub-committee on the Local Organizing Committee (LOC – Uganda) during a special press conference held at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala on Tuesday, 7th April 2026.

The Government of Uganda has committed to waive the requirement for Visa fees for all and any visitors to Uganda for a period of at least three months starting with one month prior to kick off of AFCON 2027 up to one month after the final match.

Dr Dennis K. Mugimba, the chairperson of the communications and signage sub-committee on the Local Organizing Committee (LOC – Uganda)

PAMOJA Visa:

In the same vein, Mugimba also hinted about the joint visa the Ugandan Government is planning with the other two co-hosts Kenya and Tanzania to allow easy movement of the fans and visitors across the host countries.

“To facilitate the ease of movement of fans and guests during the tournament, the Government is pursuing the option of a special purpose joint PAMOJA visa with Kenya and Tanzania during the tournament” Mugimba added.

Mugimba’s address also entailed the additional Ug.Shs 905 billion approved by General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni towards meeting critical inter-sectoral funding and administrative requirements for AFCON 2027.

This money will have Ug.Shs  101.1 billion for upgrade of select hotels in Hoima and Masindi; Ug.Shs 213.76 billion (select roads around Hoima City stadium, Namboole stadium and Kinawataka); Ug.Shs 184.9 billion (passenger terminal at Kabalega Airport), Ug.Shs 17.7 billion (FUFA), Ug.Shs 12.55 billion (Uganda Cranes preparation), Ug.Shs 109.9 billion (AFCON 2027 LOC Organizing Committee), Ug.Shs 56.2 billion (Namboole stadium remodeling and upgrade), Ug.Shs 6.44 billion (ICT infrastructure), Ug.Shs 91.05 billion (Upgrade of Hoima regional referral hospital, Masindi General Hospital and Buseruka Health Centre III), Ug.Shs 13.75 billion (Hoima City, Masindi Municipality and Kira Municipality sanitation and environmental hygiene services), Ug.Shs 3.39 Billion (Meterological services at Kabalega and Entebbe International Airports), Ug.Shs 6.25 billion (upgrade of water grid capacity in Hoima city), Ug.Shs 23.33 billion (upgrade and maintenance of railway), Ug.Shs 4.69 billion (dedicated electricity lines) and Ug.Shs 37.85 billion (marketing and promotion of Destination Uganda).

Dr. Mugimbi is rest assured that the preparations will progress smoothly coming to the next CAF inspection in June 2026.

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