Hotel proprietors in Bunyoro, under their umbrella body Bunyoro Hotel Owners Association (BHOA), are seeking Shs130 billion from the government to upgrade and boost the hotel industry ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The hotel owners say that although they have established infrastructure across the region, many of the facilities are not up to the standards required to host guests expected during the continental tournament. They are now seeking government financial assistance to help upgrade their hotels in preparation for the event.
Dr. Fred Kabagambe Kaliisa, the Chairperson of BHOA and Senior Presidential Advisor on Oil and Gas, explained that the requested funds are intended to benefit hotel owners through a government loan scheme aimed at improving existing facilities.
Dr. Kaliisa said the Shs130 billion will be provided as a loan to be repaid after the tournament. He noted that while some hotels in the sub-region currently have between 160 and 200 rooms, there is a need to expand capacity to at least 900 rooms to meet AFCON accommodation demands. He added that, in addition to more rooms, hotels also need modern amenities such as well-equipped gyms, standard conference facilities, and other upgrades.
Dr. Kaliisa revealed that a proposal seeking financial support has already been submitted to the government through the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja. He emphasized that even after AFCON, the upgraded hotels would continue serving the region’s growing tourism industry, given Bunyoro’s rich attractions such as Murchison Falls National Park, Kaiso-Tonya Game Reserve, Kibiro Hot Springs, and Bugoma Central Forest Reserve.
However, Dr. Kaliisa urged members of the association and other hotel proprietors not to rely solely on government support but to explore other avenues to improve their facilities. While inspecting the Hoima City Stadium recently, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang also appealed to hotel owners in the Bunyoro sub-region to upgrade their hotels ahead of AFCON to accommodate both local and international visitors.
Ogwang said the improved hotels will not only accommodate AFCON visitors but also serve international guests involved in the region’s oil and gas sector. Last year, the government began constructing the Hoima City Stadium, one of the designated venues for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania.
The US$129 million, 20,000-seater multi-purpose stadium—being built by M/S SUMMA, a Turkish company—sits on a 34-acre piece of land and is expected to host thousands of football fans and international guests.
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