Uganda is set to host the 2031 African Games after edging Nigeria in a bidding contest.

This decision will allow the continental Games return to eastern Africa for the first time in over 44 years following the 1987 Games in Kenya.

"There was a Virtual Extraordinary Session of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports on June 2 which brought together Sports Ministers and leaders from 34 member states to discuss three critical issues," National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary Benard Patrick Ogwel, revealed in a press briefing last Friday.

"Among those was adoption of fundamental regulations governing the African Games. These had been revised and had to be adopted by the Council of Games. Starting 2027 these will be used to strengthen governance, enhance cooperation clarity, and improve hosting of games in line with current world trends.

"The second issue was to consolidate Africa’s common position on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) proposal regarding government contributions. Members agreed to pay annual subscription as required by WADA. WADA will not allow athletes who are not tested to take part in Games. An athlete is tested on average three times a year.

"But the matter of interest to you (the media) was the confirmation of Uganda as the host for 15th edition of the African Games in 2031 in line with the principle of equitable regional rotation. But it also worth noting that Uganda presented the best bid among others," Ogwel shared.

Ogwel, who is also chairman of the AU Sports Council (SC)'s advisory board, shared that "Nigeria did not welcome it (losing the bid) in good faith but they congratulated us. I want to thank them because being there (in the bidding process) enabled us put everything right.

"I also want to thank the African Union, especially the officials that came (in February) to Uganda (to evaluate the bid). We are proud to have won this robust bid and this (2031 Games) is where we will give testament of our (sports sub-sector) contribution to making Uganda a middle income status country," Ogwel added.

A team led by the head of the AUSC Decius Chipande, chairperson technical committee for the African Games Sid Ahmed Selmi, member of the technical committee for the Games responsible for game services Caesar Penalva, and the AUSC's senior sports officer responsible for African Games Lina Paul Kessy visited Uganda to evaluate the bid in February.

Inside the bid

At the time of evaluation, we got to know that before the bidding process expired on December 31, 2025, Uganda had presented a bid which if won would command an operation budget of $94m (about Shs347.8billion). That could still grow.

Uganda's bid presented by NCS had endorsements from President Yoweri Museveni, Minister of Education and Sports First Lady Janet, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang, and the chairperson of the NCS board Ambrose Tashobya.

In the bid, Uganda offered 23 game codes codes namely; athletics, badminton, basketball and basketball 3x3, beach volleyball, boxing, chess, cricket, cycling, football, handball, hockey, judo, karate, rollball, rugby 7s, swimming, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.

"Whenever we travel for these Games, we take 20 to 40 athletes. Maybe we can now plan to have 1,000 Ugandan athletes compete at home," Ogwel said.

NCS also intimated that they intended to deliver the Games in a city model basing on facilities being constructed in Kampala, Hoima, and Lira for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). Gulu could also make a case to be included in the Games

Some of the proposed facilities include Mandela National Stadium, Hoima City Stadium, Akii Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira, a redeveloped Lugogo Sports Complex, Hamz Stadium Nakivubo, Kyambogo Cricket Oval where NCS have a 49 year lease), the various Afcon training grounds which are expected to be ready by August, Makerere Indoor Arena on which government spent Shs5.4b, plus MTN Omondi Stadium Lugogo.

"This infrastructure is for posterity and for sports development of a region that last hosted major games nearly 40 years ago," Ogwel said.

NCS also assured the AU of incredible athlete services in terms of venues, welfare, and accommodation based on the country previously hosting the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Goverment Meeting (Chogm) and the 2024 Non-Aligned Movement (Nam) meeting. Proposed hotels include; Serena, Speke Resort Munyonyo, Sheraton Kampala, Protea by Marriott, Imperial Royale, Mestill, Kabira Country Club, Four Points By Sheraton, Hilton Gardens, and Golden Tulip among others.

"We gave assurance of government's commitment to fund the Games. We also presented Uganda as a sporting country with a clear sports development agenda supported by government. We can see that through government's commitment to increase funding and the growing sports infrastructure.

"We are also a sporting nation with athletes like Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo, and Stephen Kiprotich among others, celebrated across the world. These must be able to welcome Africa to their home," Ogwel said.

Kampala will be the main host city and is expected to host the closing and opening ceremonies. It will also host most indoor and outdoor games, and be the centre of the media broadcasting and commercial hub.

Legacy Games

Overall, Uganda intends to use the Games to boost tourism and promote the economy.

"Whenever we go to other countries for Games, we see that people focus only on what happens on the field of play. Our proposal is that they come and visit Uganda beyond the Games. They can see the climate, landscape, beauty, the culture and people, visit our national parks.

"We note that the economic status of our country and people will not stay the same. We are talking about 55 member states coming. Can you imagine a team staying here and spending for 20 days. What would that mean for economic development? Now imagine 55 teams.

"We note that Afcon 2027 is a shared purpose to bring a major sporting event to this region. We look at the revenue potential of that and the chance of opening our region to people from other countries. But in this case, we can channel all that to Uganda, which I am told has 63 types of gorillas. We need to show this to the rest of the world," Ogwel said.

How to deliver

Uganda is also proposing a National Organizing Committee (NOC) led by a chairperson, a co-chairperson, three vice chairpersons, a fully fledged secretariat, and 14 subcommittees. These will take care of areas like; marketing, finance, events management, medical, anti-doping, security and safety, ICT and accreditation, guests and hospitality, team services, infrastructure and facilities, communication and signage, work force and volunteers, and spectators and fans.

The joint bids with Kenya and Tanzania to host the 2027 Afcon and the 2024 Africa Nations Championships (Chan) were key factors in Uganda edging Nigeria, a super power in African Sport.

"After Chan and Afcon, we will be well tested for hosting major events. For Chan, Uganda emerged the best in terms of infrastructure and organization because of our nature of hospitality.

"The Afcon bid, where government is injecting about Shs2.5 trillion, won us trust that we deserve to bring the whole of Africa here. The benefits (of hosting major games) are huge and the investment in an affirmation of government's commitment to sports development.

"Much of the emphasis on the African Games will come after Afcon. So, I take this opportunity to appeal to corporate sponsors and partners of Ugandan sport to join us in support of these Games.

"The African Union will continue to do official inspections as per regulations of hosting these games, give routine reports and regularly monitor progress," Ogwel said.

The 2023 edition of the African Games was held in Ghana in early 2024. The next edition will be held in Egypt in 2027.