KAMPALA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's Parliament Speaker Anitah Among has warned that the country could lose its hosting rights of the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if stadium construction is not done quickly.
Last year, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania were awarded 2027 AFCON hosting rights by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the body that runs and manages football in Africa.
"We won the bid with Kenya and Tanzania, all the other countries are constructing, the only country that is still behind is Uganda. And it is likely that if we don't move faster, the bid will be taken away from Uganda," said Among.
She made the remarks before the parliament approved a supplementary budget for starting construction of one of the AFCON planned stadiums in the district of Hoima, western Uganda.
Turkish firm Summa International was selected by the Ugandan government to undertake the construction.
Among made it clear that hosting AFCON would be very beneficial to all Ugandans. "And I want to thank the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for loving sports and making sure that we have the money to finish that place Mandela National Stadium-Namboole," she added. ■
