As Uganda prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Kenya and Tanzania, much of the national conversation understandably centres on football, stadiums, the Uganda Cranes and the country’s readiness to welcome Africa’s finest teams. But beyond the pitch lies a bigger question: how can other sporting disciplines benefit from this historic opportunity?

AFCON 2027 should be remembered not only as the tournament that brought Africa’s football elite to East Africa, but also as the moment Uganda began building a stronger, more inclusive sporting industry that creates opportunities across disciplines.

Football remains Uganda’s most popular sport, and investments in preparation for AFCON are necessary. However, athletics, rugby, basketball, netball, volleyball, boxing, cricket, squash, motorsport and other disciplines also have talented athletes and passionate administrators, many operating with limited resources.

AFCON presents an opportunity to change this, provided Uganda approaches the tournament with a broader vision of sports development.

The first opportunity lies in infrastructure. Uganda is investing in stadiums, training facilities, transport networks and other amenities to meet the demands of hosting the continental competition. These investments should form part of a long-term national sports strategy rather than serve only football’s immediate needs.

Where facilities can accommodate multiple disciplines, authorities should ensure that other sports can access them after the tournament. Modern changing rooms, medical facilities, lighting, spectator amenities and improved transport links can benefit several sporting activities when properly planned and managed.

Not every football stadium can accommodate every sport. Uganda must therefore complement its investments with indoor arenas, athletics facilities, swimming pools, community courts and training centres. Ultimately, the test will be what these facilities contribute to Ugandan sport after the final whistle of AFCON 2027.

The second opportunity is investment and sponsorship. AFCON will attract international attention, businesses, visitors and potential investors. This exposure should encourage corporate Uganda to extend its support beyond football to athletics meets, basketball leagues, rugby competitions, netball tournaments and other sporting events.

Sponsorship can do more than finance athletes. It can improve competition organisation, strengthen sports marketing, support youth academies and create reliable pathways for athletes to build professional careers.

Other sporting disciplines must, in turn, package their competitions professionally, communicate their value and demonstrate how sponsors can achieve meaningful returns while contributing to national development. Government and sports authorities should also create an environment that encourages investment across the sporting sector.

Third, Uganda should use AFCON to strengthen sports tourism. Hosting the tournament will showcase the country’s attractions, hospitality, culture and ability to organise major sporting events. That exposure should open doors to more regional, continental and international competitions.

With appropriate facilities, professional event management and effective marketing, Uganda can pursue competitions in athletics, rugby, basketball, boxing, cricket and other disciplines. Such events can generate business for hotels, transport operators and other enterprises while giving local athletes opportunities to compete at home against international opposition.

Sports tourism must, however, be deliberate. Government, tourism bodies, federations and private-sector players should identify events Uganda can realistically host and develop a calendar that extends beyond AFCON.

The fourth opportunity is grassroots development. The tournament’s benefits should reach beyond elite teams and established athletes to young people across the country.

Uganda needs stronger school competitions, community sports programmes, accessible training facilities and better support for emerging talent. The excitement surrounding AFCON can encourage children to participate in different sports and help communities recognise opportunities beyond football.

This requires investment in coaches, qualified officials, sports science, talent identification and athlete welfare. Federations must also establish clear pathways through which promising athletes can progress from school and community competitions to national teams.

If Uganda converts AFCON’s visibility into sustained participation and stronger development structures, the benefits could reach generations who may never attend a tournament match.

Finally, this legacy requires deliberate policy, funding and accountability. Uganda should not assume that other disciplines will automatically benefit from hosting AFCON. Opportunities must be planned, budgeted for and measured.

Sports authorities should work with federations to identify practical benefits in facility access, sponsorship, training, event hosting and youth development. They must also establish arrangements for maintaining AFCON facilities and ensuring their continued accessibility and financial sustainability.

The Sports for National Development Consortium, launched in August 2026 to help maximise AFCON’s wider benefits, offers a starting point for this conversation. Its ambition to connect sport with investment, tourism, youth opportunities and long-term development should encourage stakeholders to think beyond the tournament. The challenge is translating these ambitions into tangible benefits for the entire sporting fraternity.

Supporting other sports does not mean taking resources away from football. It means recognising that a strong sporting nation is built on multiple disciplines, each contributing to national pride, talent development, employment and economic growth.

AFCON 2027 is a football tournament, but its legacy need not be limited to football. Uganda has an opportunity to strengthen sporting institutions, attract investment, improve facilities, develop young athletes and establish itself as a destination for international sport.

When the tournament ends and visiting teams return home, we should be able to point to more than successful matches and full stadiums. We should see stronger athletics programmes, better-supported rugby and basketball competitions, improved indoor sporting facilities and greater opportunities for young boxers, swimmers and other athletes.

That is the legacy Uganda should pursue. AFCON will last a few weeks, but the opportunity belongs to the entire sporting fraternity. Government, federations, the private sector and other stakeholders must ensure that when the tournament becomes history, its benefits continue shaping Ugandan sport for years to come.