Kampala AFCON 2027 guide: Namboole, where to stay and Uganda’s strict rules

A rebuilt national stadium, a cool highland June, and the strictest rules of the three hosts.

Kampala’s rooftops under a grey sky, with the white minaret and domes of the Uganda National Mosque on Old Kampala hill.

Kampala AFCON 2027 matches are expected at the Mandela National Stadium, known to everyone as Namboole, about 10 km east of the city centre. Uganda's other two proposed grounds are far from the capital: Hoima City Stadium in the west and the Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira, in the north. The tournament runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027. Uganda has the strictest rules of the three hosts, so read the section on laws before you pack.

This guide covers the stadiums, Entebbe airport, where to stay, getting around, money, health and the rules that catch visitors out. CAF has not yet confirmed the venues, so check our hub before you book anything you cannot change.

Kampala AFCON 2027 stadiums

Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) is in Kira, on the Jinja Road east of the centre. It is Uganda's national stadium, and it has been rebuilt for the tournament, with the government aiming to hand it over by the end of 2026.

The Mandela National Stadium at Namboole, near Kampala, seen across its paved forecourt with a row of empty flagpoles in front.

Hoima City Stadium, about 200 km north-west of Kampala, has a reported 20,000 seats and is already finished. Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira, about 340 km north, has a reported 20,000 seats and was due for completion in December 2026.

Aerial view of the new Hoima City Stadium in western Uganda, with a white roof over red seats and a green pitch.

Hoima and Lira are small towns with few hotels, and fans online already worry about where everyone will sleep. For most visitors, Kampala is the better base, with a long day trip or one night in Hoima or Lira for the match. Leave early: Hoima is about four hours by road and Lira about five.

The Akii Bua Stadium in Lira, Uganda, under construction: bare concrete stands around an earth field, with two cranes at work.

Arriving at Entebbe airport

Entebbe International (EBB) is on Lake Victoria, about 40 km south of Kampala. The toll expressway links the two. The drive takes 45 to 60 minutes off-peak and up to two and a half hours in the morning and evening rush.

Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, with its old white control tower and a row of African national flags under a blue sky.

Uber and SafeCar, in the SafeBoda app, both work from the airport, with a longer walk to the pickup point. Uber cost about UGX 120,000–150,000 ($32–40) to the city when we checked, and SafeCar slightly less. The official airport taxis charge about UGX 150,000; agree the price first. Shared express minibuses from Entebbe town cost UGX 6,000–7,000 but leave only when full, so they suit travellers with time to spare and light bags. MTN and Airtel sell SIM cards in the arrivals hall, and you register with your passport. Keep small shilling notes for tips and tolls.

Where to stay for the Kampala AFCON 2027 matches

Kololo and Nakasero, on the hills just above the centre, are the upmarket districts, with embassies, good restaurants and the city's best hotels. The Kampala Serena, in the centre, scored 9.6 from guests on hotels.com in November 2026, the best rating we found in the city.

Munyonyo and the lakeside, south of the city, suit a quieter stay. The Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort, at Kigo, scored 8.6 with guests, and the Speke Resort sits on the shore at Munyonyo. Both are further from Namboole, so add time on match days.

Ratings come from hotels.com guest reviews in November 2026, before Kampala AFCON 2027 bookings began. Book a room you can cancel until the schedule is published.

Getting around Kampala

For a Kampala AFCON 2027 trip, use Uber, SafeCar or your hotel's own car. The UK government's travel advice reports muggings of foreigners riding boda-bodas, the motorbike taxis, sometimes violent, and drinks being spiked in bars and on public transport. It also advises against matatus, the shared minibuses, and against driving outside towns after dark, except on the Entebbe road. Keep car windows up and phones out of sight in slow traffic.

Hundreds of white minibus taxis packed into a taxi park in central Kampala, with shops and offices all around.

Cleaning day: on the last Saturday of every month, movement is restricted from 07:00 to 10:00 while the city cleans up. Tourists are exempt, but taxis and roads are affected. Saturday 26 June 2027 falls in the group stage, so plan any morning travel that day with care.

Moving on from Kampala

For Kenya and Tanzania, fly from Entebbe. There are direct flights to Nairobi, about an hour, and to Dar es Salaam, about an hour and a half. The road to Nairobi takes a long day, with a border crossing at Busia or Malaba. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda and Kenya together, but not Tanzania, which needs its own e-visa and its compulsory insurance. Kenya adds its own insurance too. Book regional flights early: with three host countries and limited seats, the routes between the host cities are likely to sell out first.

Money, phones and power

Uganda uses the shilling (UGX). Hotels and bigger restaurants take cards, but street food, markets and taxis want cash or mobile money. Use machines inside banks or malls, and avoid withdrawing after dark. Plugs are the British three-pin type, at 240 volts.

Weather and health

Kampala AFCON 2027 weather should be mild. The city sits at about 1,200 metres, so June and July are warm but rarely hot: days around 26°C and nights near 17°C, with occasional showers. The malaria risk is high across Uganda, including Kampala, so take the antimalarials a travel clinic prescribes. Do not swim in Lake Victoria or other fresh water, because of bilharzia. Drink bottled or filtered water, and carry your own basic medicines from home.

Uganda's rules: the strictest of the three hosts

Camouflage or military-style clothing is illegal, including red berets. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment. Leave camouflage fan gear at home.
Red and yellow are political-party colours. Uganda's own team plays in black, yellow and red, so wear your shirt, but keep away from political rallies.
E-cigarettes and shisha are illegal, and smoking is banned in many public places.
Giving money, food or clothes to street children in Kampala is illegal.
The Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023 sets long prison terms, and the death penalty in some cases. Public displays of affection between same-sex couples are dangerous.
Drugs: up to 20 years for possession.
Do not photograph soldiers, police, government buildings or embassies, and carry a copy of your passport.

What we do not know yet about Kampala AFCON 2027

CAF has not confirmed Uganda's venues, ticket prices or the match schedule, and the qualifiers run until March 2027. Uganda's visa waiver also still needs details. We will update this guide when they come. Until then, book what you can change, because tournament plans move. Our AFCON 2027 hub tracks every date as it is confirmed.

For the rest of your trip, see our guide to travelling between the host cities and our guide to safety, laws and manners.

Quick answers

Where are the Kampala AFCON 2027 matches? At the Mandela National Stadium (Namboole), in Kira, about 10 km east of the centre.
Where should I stay? Kololo or Nakasero; Munyonyo for the lake.
Can I stay in Hoima or Lira? A few hotels exist, but most fans will base themselves in Kampala and travel for the match.
Can I wear my team's camouflage shirt? No. Camouflage is illegal in Uganda.