Where to book Accommodation in Uganda for AFCON

Where to book Accommodation in Uganda for AFCON. For the first time in over fifty years, the Africa Cup of Nations is heading to East Africa, with Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda jointly hosting the 2027 tournament from June through July. For football fans planning to follow their national teams or simply experience the continent’s biggest sporting event, Uganda’s host cities are expected to see a major surge in visitor numbers, and accommodation is already becoming a hot topic for travelers planning ahead. Whether you’re coming purely for the football or hoping to combine match days with a Uganda safari through Frena Adventures, knowing where and when to book a place to stay will make a big difference to your trip.

Uganda’s AFCON 2027 Host Stadiums and Cities

Uganda’s matches will be split primarily between two venues: the newly refurbished Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Kira Municipality, just outside Kampala in Wakiso District, and the newly commissioned Hoima City Stadium in Hoima, western Uganda. Lira’s Akii Bua Stadium has also been mentioned as a potential venue as preparations continue. Mandela National Stadium sits within easy reach of Kampala and Entebbe, making it the more straightforward option for travelers staying near the capital, while Hoima represents a more significant shift, located several hours west of Kampala in a region historically known for oil exploration rather than international tourism. Each city presents a very different accommodation picture, and planning ahead matters for both.

Staying in Kampala and Entebbe for Mandela National Stadium Matches

For matches at Mandela National Stadium, Kampala and Entebbe offer the widest range of accommodation options, from international hotel chains to smaller guesthouses and serviced apartments. Kampala puts you close to the stadium itself, the city’s restaurants, markets, and nightlife, while Entebbe, about forty minutes away, offers the advantage of proximity to the international airport and a more relaxed, lakeside atmosphere along Lake Victoria. Given that this is Uganda’s primary stadium and likely to host the highest-profile matches, including potentially Uganda’s own group games, demand for hotels in both cities is expected to rise sharply as the tournament approaches, particularly for dates around the host nation’s fixtures.

Accommodation in Hoima: A Region in Rapid Expansion

Hoima presents a different picture entirely. As one of Uganda’s designated host cities, the region has seen a significant push to expand and upgrade its hotel capacity ahead of the tournament, with government-backed loan support helping local hoteliers bring properties up to the standard required for international visitors, officials, and teams. Properties such as the Kontiki Hotel are being redeveloped into higher-end accommodation, and multiple new builds and expansions are underway across Hoima and neighboring Masindi. For travelers planning to attend matches in Hoima, this means accommodation options are improving steadily, but availability during the tournament itself is likely to be tight, making early booking especially important for this host city.

Booking Early: Why Demand Will Be High

With AFCON 2027 expected to draw fans from across Africa and beyond, and with East Africa hosting the tournament for the first time in decades, demand for accommodation across all three host countries is expected to be intense, particularly during the group stages when multiple matches take place close together. Hotels near both Mandela National Stadium and Hoima City Stadium are likely to fill up well in advance, especially for dates coinciding with popular matchups or the host nations’ own fixtures. Travelers who wait until closer to the tournament risk being pushed into accommodation further from the stadiums, with longer transfer times on match days, so booking as early as possible, even before the full fixture schedule is confirmed, is a sensible approach for anyone serious about attending.

Combining Match Days with a Murchison Falls Safari

One of the unique advantages of Hoima as a host city is its proximity to Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s premier wildlife destinations. For travelers attending matches in Hoima, it’s entirely feasible to combine match days with a short safari extension, taking in game drives across the park’s northern savannah, a boat cruise on the Nile toward the thundering falls, and a stop at the nearby Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on the way. Our 5 Days Murchison Falls Bwindi Fly-In Safari can be adapted around match schedules for travelers looking to turn a football trip into a fuller Uganda experience, making the most of the long journey to Hoima.

Side Trips from Kampala: Jinja, Lake Mburo, and Entebbe

For fans based in Kampala or Entebbe between matches, several easy day trips offer a welcome change of pace. Jinja, source of the Nile and a hub for adventure activities like white-water rafting and bungee jumping, sits a couple of hours from Kampala and makes for a popular outing, as covered in Frena Adventures’ guide to Jinja. Travelers with a free day or two could also consider a short trip to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s closest savannah park to Kampala, for a taste of game viewing without venturing far. Entebbe itself, with its botanical gardens and lakeside setting, offers a relaxed base for fans flying in and out around match dates, and our 8 Days Uganda Big Five Encounters itinerary can be tailored to fit around a Kampala-based AFCON schedule.

What to Look for in AFCON Accommodation

Beyond simply finding a room, a few factors are worth prioritizing when booking accommodation for the tournament. Proximity to the stadium matters enormously on match days, when traffic around major venues can be heavy, so properties within easy reach or along well-served transport routes are worth paying a premium for. Reliable Wi-Fi and backup power are also worth checking, particularly for fans wanting to follow other tournament matches when not attending in person. Finally, given the surge in demand, flexible cancellation policies are valuable, since fixture schedules and travel plans for a multi-country tournament can shift as the event approaches.

Booking Through a Trusted Local Operator

Given the scale of AFCON 2027 and the rapid pace of hotel development in cities like Hoima, working with a local operator who has up-to-date knowledge of which properties are ready, reliable, and well-located can save considerable hassle compared to booking blind online. Local operators are also better positioned to combine accommodation bookings with transport between cities, airport transfers, and any safari add-ons, which is particularly useful for a tournament spread across multiple host countries. Frena Adventures’ guide on choosing a Uganda tour operator offers useful pointers on what to look for when selecting a partner for a trip of this scale.

Plan Your AFCON 2027 Trip with Frena Adventures

AFCON 2027 represents a rare opportunity to combine one of Africa’s biggest sporting events with everything Uganda has to offer beyond the stadium, from the Nile’s rapids in Jinja to the wildlife of Murchison Falls. With accommodation in both Kampala and Hoima expected to fill quickly as the tournament approaches, early planning is the key to securing a good base for match days without overpaying or settling for inconvenient locations. To start planning a trip that combines AFCON matches with a Uganda safari, browse our full range of Uganda tours or get in touch through our contact page, and our team can help put together an itinerary around your match schedule.