Hon Peter Ogwang faces defining five years in Uganda’s sports sector

By Emmanuel Sekago

Having been retained as State Minister for Sports in the newly unveiled 2026–2031 Cabinet, Peter Ogwang enters his new term with one of the most demanding assignments in Uganda’s sporting history.

At the top of his agenda is Uganda’s preparation to co-host the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Kenya and Tanzania under the PAMOJA 2027 arrangement.

The continental tournament represents the biggest sporting event Uganda has ever undertaken and will undoubtedly dominate the Ministry of Education and Sports’ priorities over the next year.

Ogwang will be expected to closely monitor progress on critical infrastructure projects, particularly Hoima City Stadium and the continued redevelopment of Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, Akii Bua Stadium alongside other facilities highlighted during CAF inspection exercises.

The pressure is immense. Uganda is racing against time to meet CAF requirements and deliver all mandatory infrastructure before the tournament kicks off in June 2027.

Government has already demonstrated its commitment by allocating approximately UGX 905 billion in the 2026/27 national budget to support AFCON-related infrastructure upgrades, logistics, and other hosting obligations. The successful delivery of these projects will likely become the defining benchmark of Ogwang’s tenure.

Beyond infrastructure development, football governance could also emerge as a sensitive issue requiring careful management.

In recent months, discussions around governance and accountability within football administration have continued to generate public interest. Any developments involving football authorities would require a delicate balance between ensuring accountability and respecting international football regulations, particularly FIFA statutes that prohibit government interference in football administration.

How such matters are handled could have significant implications for Uganda’s football future.

At the same time, Ogwang faces growing concerns from several sports federations over inadequate government funding.

Many National federations fear that the country’s substantial investment in AFCON preparations may come at the expense of other sporting disciplines. Athletics, boxing, netball, swimming, rugby, basketball, Cricket and several other sports continue to require resources for athlete development, international competitions, grassroots programmes, and talent identification initiatives.

The challenge for the Sports Ministry will be ensuring that AFCON 2027 does not overshadow broader sports development objectives.

Another pressing matter is the ongoing compliance process under the National Sports Act and the National Sports Regulations 2025.

National sports federations and associations have until June 7, 2026, to fully comply with the requirements set by the National Council of Sports (NCS). Failure to meet these obligations could result in the loss of certificates of recognition and exclusion from official government support structures.

The Ministry will therefore be expected to provide guidance and support to ensure sports organisations successfully complete the compliance process while strengthening governance, transparency, and accountability across the sector.

On the international stage, Uganda is also preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The country hopes to field a competitive team capable of improving on previous performances and winning medals across various disciplines. Achieving this goal will require timely funding, athlete welfare support, exposure opportunities, and effective coordination between government and national federations.

Looking further ahead, preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles have already begun.

Athlete development pathways, qualification campaigns, coaching structures, and elite performance programmes will require sustained investment if Uganda is to remain competitive on the global stage and build on recent successes in athletics and other sports.

The coming five years therefore present both enormous opportunities and significant challenges for Peter Ogwang.

While AFCON 2027 will undoubtedly dominate headlines, his broader success will ultimately be measured by how effectively he balances infrastructure development, sports governance reforms, federation support, athlete preparation, and long-term growth across all sporting disciplines.

For Ugandan sport, the next term has the potential to be transformative. The challenge now is turning ambition into results and ensuring that the benefits of investment extend beyond AFCON 2027 to create a stronger, more sustainable sporting ecosystem for future generations.