Dear Editor:
As Ugandans continue to celebrate CAF awarding of the East Africa Pamoja the rights to host
the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations last month, the Government must also see that funds are
allocated to improving all road network that are linked to the stadiums selected to host the
tournament in the country. These improvements should include all roads leading to borders of
the other host countries that is Tanzania and Kenya to realize the benefits of the event.
According to the seen communication written by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon.
Thomas Tayebwa which was used as guarantee during the biding process to host the 2027
edition, there was little mention of the improvement of transport, communication and hospitality
infrastructure yet they are key facilitates for the smooth provision of forward and backward
linkages towards the tournament.
As we are chest thump for winning this bid to host some of the AFCON matches on the Ugandan
soil which will be historical, we need to have safe road network so that we don’t embarrass
ourselves during this greatest tournament of the African continent. If the current figures of road
crash deaths and injuries are not curbed as soon as possible, we might scare very many from
coming to watch the tournament.
Who would like to visit a country that lost 4,806 in road crashes in 2023, who would like to visit a country that lost 4,534 in 2022 and who would like to spend money on roads that killed 4,159 people in 2021? These figures show road deaths have tremendously been on rise each day, each week, each month and each year. The statistics of people who have been sustaining life threatening injuries have also been skyrocketing. Over 16,000 people sustained serious injuries last year. Bayona et al (2023) defines a serious injury that leads to death, involves permanent disability or makes a person spend over 30 days
bedridden, or absent from work.
Sometimes when we raise these issues, some individuals especially those in circles of power
think we are unpatriotic. But they forget that the Internet made the world a global village and
therefore anyone can access information about road safety, health facilities, hospitality as well as
the general security at any time. One can be seated anywhere and collect data about a village in
Zombo or Bukomansimbi. Thus, everyone can access the information he or she wants by a
simple search on the Internet or a phone call.
As we promise to construct stadiums that meet CAF and FIFA standards, we also need to have satisfying budget for road safety. We should not be that country that will make headlines when
players or fans are knocked dead going to or returning from watching the matches. Let us be the
country that people will glorify for having standard stadiums, hotels, and transport networks.
Of the three countries chosen to host AFCON2027, Kenya as of today has the best sports
facilitation infrastructure with some clear communication networks and accommodation
facilitates spread countrywide followed by Tanzania and Uganda comes third. This implies there
is a lot that Uganda needs to improve in the next two years to ensure we have a memorable
AFCON2027 tournament.
Ugandans have for years picked enthusiasm for supporting the increasing sports disciplines thus
AFCON2027 comes as a true gift for them to have a real feel of hosting such a tournament. The onus is now on the Government to make real its promises after the enactment of the Sports Act
2022 but this must be in tandem with our resolve to having all the required infrastructure in
place. As the urge continues to invest more in sports, its peripheral services too need to improve and all
key stakeholders need to work jointly through a national multi-sectoral approach as the current
status quo of NCS, FUFA and the education ministry cannot fully deliver a very successful
tournament without such.
Though we cannot be 100 per cent perfect by 2027, Uganda must endeavor to invest a sizable fund in sports and mobility infrastructure for development linkages. The major aspects hospitality, transport and communication will enhance better services though transport takes precedent as it is in the hands of Government while the other two will greatly attract private sector investment if the enabling climate continues to be conducive.
Some key road networks for instance in the biggest tournament host stadia Namboole witnesses the
painstaking traffic jams around it. This is due the current state of our city roads making one to
spend 2-3 hours to and from the same. But we are confident that if there is goodwill, this
narrative can change by end of 2025. We should not be those people who always want to do
things at the last hour. Let’s start early enough and we complete early enough to have the Pearl
of Africa shine in 2027.
Authored by Kiapi K. Freddie
Road Safety Advocate at Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents (HOVITA)
Email: info@hovita.org