By GPC Sports Desk
The Arusha Pamoja Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Stadium in Tanzania is 95 per cent complete, with construction progressing ahead of the 2027 continental football tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), led by the Assembly’s Speaker, inspected the facility on Sunday, October 11, following a briefing by the engineering team overseeing the project.
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The team confirmed that the stadium had reached 95 per cent completion and remained on course to be ready ahead of the tournament.
The Speaker commended the engineers and the Tanzanian government for investing in sports infrastructure as the East African region prepares to host the continental showpiece.
The inspection formed part of EALA’s outreach and oversight activities aimed at monitoring regional projects and engaging stakeholders on initiatives supporting East African Community integration.
Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, who chairs the EAC Council of Ministers, expressed confidence in the preparations by the three host countries.
Kadaga said Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were working together to deliver a successful tournament that would showcase the region’s capacity to host major international sporting events.
She also announced that the three governments were developing a framework for a special joint visa to ease cross-border travel for football fans during the competition.
The proposed arrangement is expected to make it easier for supporters to travel between the three countries to attend matches, although details on its implementation have yet to be announced.
The stadium inspection came ahead of the EAC Interparliamentary Games, scheduled to take place in Arusha from December 4 to 16. The annual competition brings together legislators from the eight East African Community partner states for various sporting disciplines.
The games provide an opportunity for lawmakers to interact beyond parliamentary engagements while promoting regional cooperation and integration.
EALA said the inspection was part of its mandate to monitor Community projects and engage regional stakeholders on development initiatives.
The 2027 AFCON tournament is expected to showcase East Africa’s sports facilities, tourism attractions and capacity to organise major international competitions.
